Constitutional Court Refers Lee Jinsook's Petition on Broadcasting Media Communications Committee to Formal Review

Former Chairwoman Jin-Sook Lee of the Korea Communications Commission is responding to lawmakers' questions at the 2025 National Assembly Audit held on the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee on the 14th.

The constitutional petition filed by former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsook regarding the law establishing the Broadcasting Media Communications Committee (Bangmitongwi), which abolished the Broadcasting and Communications Commission and created a new organization, has been formally referred for a constitutional review.

According to the legal community on October 17, the Constitutional Court formally referred for review on October 15 the constitutional petition filed by former Chairperson Lee, which challenges the constitutionality of Article 4 of the supplementary provisions of the law establishing the Broadcasting Media Communications Committee.

Under the Constitutional Court Act, a designated panel of three justices first determines whether the constitutional petition meets the legal requirements. If the panel finds no legal defects, the case is referred to the full bench of nine justices for deliberation.

Article 4 of the supplementary provisions of the law establishing the Broadcasting Media Communications Committee stipulates the transfer of former Broadcasting and Communications Commission staff to the new committee, but specifies that political appointees are excluded.

In response, former Chairperson Lee argued that this provision shortens her legally guaranteed term, which was supposed to last until August next year, thereby violating her rights to equality, the pursuit of happiness, and to hold public office. On the same day, she filed a constitutional petition and also requested a provisional injunction to suspend the law's effect.

With the law establishing the Broadcasting Media Communications Committee, which passed the National Assembly plenary session on September 27, taking effect on October 1, the former Broadcasting and Communications Commission was abolished and the new committee was launched. In accordance with the legal provisions, former Chairperson Lee was also dismissed on the same day.