Unable to Submit Report in Person,
Media Special Committee Files Online
The Special Committee on Media of the People Power Party (Media Special Committee) reported Choi Minhee, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, to the Euljiro Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea on October 29, citing allegations of abuse of power against administrative staff and broadcasting company employees.
The report was submitted by Moon Hocheol, Senior Vice Chairperson of the Media Special Committee; Lee Junwoo, Media Spokesperson; Park Daegi, Vice Chairperson of the Media Special Committee; Lee Jongbae, Seoul Metropolitan Council Member; Kang Daegyu, Attorney; and Lee Jaeneung, Media Spokesperson. The Euljiro Committee is an internal Democratic Party committee established in 2013 to protect the voices of the socially disadvantaged. The Media Special Committee stated, "Abuse of power is not a partisan issue," explaining their reason for visiting the Euljiro Committee.
Chairperson Choi sparked controversy by including a card payment button in the mobile wedding invitation for her daughter, which was held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly during the parliamentary audit period. The controversy intensified when a mobile phone screen captured in the main chamber of the National Assembly revealed that she had received large monetary gifts from officials of audited agencies. As the issue escalated, Chairperson Choi explained that she had deleted the card payment function and provided the list and amounts in order to return the monetary gifts.
In addition, the Media Special Committee raised issues regarding: ▲ Chairperson Choi reprimanding and expelling the head of MBC's news division during a closed-door business briefing at MBC on October 20, after expressing dissatisfaction with news coverage about herself; ▲ allegations of abuse of power against administrative staff affiliated with the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee.
The Media Special Committee attempted to submit the report in person to the Euljiro Committee's Secretariat at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, but found the office locked and received no response, so they were unable to deliver the document. They then visited the office of Min Byungdeok, the Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the Euljiro Committee, to request document submission, but Min's aides refused, stating that the chairperson was out of the office for external engagements.
The Media Special Committee subsequently submitted the report via email. Senior Vice Chairperson Moon stated, "The Euljiro Committee is supposed to stand with the socially disadvantaged, regardless of party affiliation," and criticized, "If they turn a blind eye simply because the allegations concern their own party member, that is the very definition of double standards and protecting their own."
The Media Special Committee plans to closely monitor the Democratic Party's thorough investigation and swift action regarding Chairperson Choi, while awaiting an official response from the Euljiro Committee.
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