"Yoon, Leader of Rebellion" vs "Lee, Illegal North Korea Remittance Offender"… Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash in Science and ICT Committee Debate

Key Witnesses Including Ryu Heerim and Heo Gyeom Absent in Large Numbers
Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Fake News During Impeachment Phase

At the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the ruling and opposition parties clashed on the 5th over issues such as fake news that surfaced during the impeachment phase of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. 2025.3.5. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the same day, the committee held a plenary session and conducted urgent inquiries targeting the Korea Communications Commission and others regarding controversies over the spread of online election fraud conspiracy theories.

Han Min-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, questioned Kim Yong-bin, Secretary General of the Central Election Commission, who appeared as a witness at the committee’s urgent inquiry, saying, "I am meeting the Secretary General for the first time today, and isn’t he a university classmate of President Yoon Seok-yeol?" He added, "There is absolutely no reason for Secretary General Kim to commit election fraud for someone he is meeting for the first time, yet YouTube channel Gong Byeong-ho TV claims that 'Secretary General Kim created tens of thousands of votes for me.' Did you commit such illegal acts for someone you met today for the first time?"

In response, Secretary General Kim of the Election Commission strongly denied the election fraud conspiracy theories, stating, "I have repeatedly said that these claims are not true," and added, "For election fraud to occur, forged ballots would have to be placed in the ballot box, but aren’t observers watching the entire voting process?"

Representative Han emphasized, "Many people believe President Yoon’s election fraud incitement, and as a result, South Korea’s democracy index has recently plummeted," urging, "The Election Commission must actively refute and clarify these issues."

Secretary General Kim replied, "To prevent the spread of false information, we will consult with related agencies such as the Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Communications Standards Commission."

Kim Yong-bin, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, is taking the witness oath before answering questions on current issues at the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee held at the National Assembly on March 5, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The opposition also raised concerns that the correlation between recent allegations of recruitment corruption at the Central Election Commission and election fraud suspicions is unclear.

When Representative Jo In-cheol of the Democratic Party asked Secretary General Kim, "Has there actually been a lot of election fraud?" Kim responded, "I would call it poor management," and added, "Election fraud fundamentally involves the mobilization of an organization."

In response to Jo’s follow-up question, "Is that closely related to the recent recruitment corruption?" Kim answered directly, "I don’t think there is a connection."

Regarding one of the election fraud conspiracy theories involving "the arrest of 99 Chinese spies at the Election Training Institute," Representative Jo pointed out, "The problem is that when a single YouTuber or individual raises such conspiracy theories, they are actively spread and become accepted as facts. This phenomenon of being mistaken for truth continues," and asked, "Has the Election Commission actively responded to this?"

Secretary General Kim lamented, "There is no appropriate way for the Election Commission to respond. (To respond) the issue must involve election or candidate defamation to fall within the Commission’s jurisdiction."

Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is talking with officials at the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. March 5, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Ruling and opposition lawmakers also engaged in fierce debates over expressions referring to President Yoon as a 'leader of rebellion' or 'head of insurrection.'

Earlier, after the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment, Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, returned on January 23 this year and visited the press room, stating to reporters, "The media should not report as if President Yoon’s charge of treason is confirmed," which became a point of contention.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jeong-heon criticized Chairperson Lee, saying, "The term 'head of insurrection' keeps appearing in the prosecution’s indictment and in the Constitutional Court proceedings, yet Chairperson Lee continues to defend Yoon Seok-yeol," and added, "Therefore, she is criticized for defending Yoon’s media control, oppression, rebellion, and far-right riots, revealing the same perception."

On the other hand, Park Jeong-hoon of the People Power Party said, "I also think the martial law was wrong, but I absolutely cannot agree with the Democratic Party’s definitive labeling of him as a 'leader of rebellion,'" and retorted, "By that logic, wouldn’t Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung be a 'corporate card embezzler,' 'third-party bribery law violator,' 'election law violator,' 'perjury instigator,' and 'traitor who benefited North Korea'?"

When Park asked Chairperson Lee for a response, she replied, "I think so too. If President Yoon is called the head of insurrection, then Leader Lee could also be called a 'distributor of false information' or 'illegal remitter to North Korea.'"

This prompted immediate backlash and protests from opposition lawmakers, causing a temporary disturbance in the chamber.

Meanwhile, witnesses summoned for the urgent inquiry included Kim Tae-gyu, Vice Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission; Ryu Hee-rim, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Standards Commission; Kwon Sang-hee, Chairperson of the By-election Broadcast Deliberation Committee; Choi Jae-hyun, KBS Media Auditor; Jeon Han-na, former CEO of First Mobile; and Heo Gyeom, reporter for Sky Daily. However, all submitted written excuses for their absence.