176 Out of 177 Lawmakers Present Vote in Favor, Bill Passes
The Act on the Establishment of the Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee, which abolishes the Korea Communications Commission and establishes the Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee, was passed at the National Assembly's plenary session on September 27, led by the ruling party. Once this law takes effect, Lee Jinsook, the chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission appointed by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, will be automatically dismissed upon the expiration of her term.
At the plenary session, the National Assembly passed the Act on the Establishment of the Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee with 176 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 177 members present.
The Democratic Party of Korea, which is the ruling party, and other pro-government parties voted in favor, while Lee Jooyoung, a member of the Reform Party, was the only one to vote against the bill.
The People Power Party, which opposes the bill, refused to participate in the vote.
On the 27th, at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee was passed. Provided by Yonhap News
The bill contains detailed regulations on the roles and operational procedures of the newly established Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee following the abolition of the Korea Communications Commission.
The new committee will be a central administrative agency under the President, taking on not only the current responsibilities of the Korea Communications Commission but also a wide range of policies related to paid broadcasting and new media, which are currently handled by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The purpose is to integrate the policy framework for the broadcasting sector, which has been divided between the Korea Communications Commission and the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The committee will consist of a total of seven members: a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, one standing member, and four non-standing members. The President will nominate two members, including the chairperson, while the ruling and opposition parties will recommend two and three members, respectively. This will result in a 4-to-3 structure between the ruling and opposition parties within the committee.
The bill also includes provisions to reorganize the Korea Communications Standards Commission into the Broadcasting Media and Communications Standards Commission and to allow for the impeachment of the chairperson of the standards commission.
This bill broadly defines the abolition of the Korea Communications Commission, the establishment of the Broadcasting Media and Communications Committee, and the scope of its duties. On the other hand, the People Power Party has opposed the bill, calling it a "Lee Jinsook Removal Act."
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