Lee Jinsook Insists on 'Presidential Directive'; Presidential Office Says "No Right to Attend Cabinet Meetings If She Can't Distinguish Directive from Opinion"

Kang Yoojung Suggests Exclusion from Cabinet Meetings
"It Could Be Considered"

Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the presidential office, criticized Lee Jinsook, chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, stating, "If she cannot distinguish between a directive and an opinion, I personally believe she is not qualified to speak at Cabinet meetings."

Yonhap News Agency

On July 9, during a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office, Kang made this remark in response to a question about Lee's continued claim that she had received instructions from the president to draft a new broadcasting law. Lee had previously stated at the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee meeting on July 7 that "the president instructed me to draft a proposal for the Korea Communications Commission." In response, Kang countered, "It was closer to the president asking for an opinion rather than issuing a directive."

Kang's remarks on this day came as Lee has not stopped insisting that there was a "presidential directive." Lee posted on her Facebook page, "It is generally appropriate not to disclose remarks made in closed meetings," but added, "I corrected the record because media reports risked distorting the facts. I did receive a directive from the president to draft amendments to the broadcasting law."

In response, Kang said, "Chairperson Lee said she was correcting a mistake, but that is not accurate," reiterating that what President Lee said to Chairperson Lee was "asking for an opinion," not issuing a "directive."

Kang was also asked whether the government was considering excluding Chairperson Lee from Cabinet meetings. She replied, "There has been no discussion on that matter yet," but added, "Personally, I think it could be considered." Kang continued, "Chairperson Lee attends Cabinet meetings with speaking rights but without voting rights, and the right to speak is granted by President Lee. Up to now, she has always been allowed to speak, but in the process, details from closed meetings have been leaked, and only matters related to the Korea Communications Commission have been used for her personal political purposes."

Meanwhile, regarding some media reports that the president had asked for thorough deliberation on contentious bills such as the Yellow Envelope Act and the Grain Act, Kang responded, "My understanding is that the president requested the Democratic Party to consult with the newly appointed ministers when handling bills, and to coordinate with fiscal authorities on bills that require budget expenditures."