President Lee Drops Appeal Over Ruling Canceling Yoon Administration's Appointment of Seven KBS Board Members

Administrative Court Rules Recommendation by Two-Member KCC Was Unlawful
Presidential Office Says It "Respects the Court Ruling"

President Lee Jaemyung has submitted a waiver of appeal, accepting the court ruling that canceled as unlawful the appointment of seven KBS board members made under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Yonhap News Agency

On the 3rd, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoojung said, "The President has submitted a waiver of appeal to the court of first instance in the case seeking cancellation of the appointment disposition," adding, "He made the decision in respect for the intent of the court ruling."

On January 22, the 12th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Kang Jaewon) ruled in a lawsuit filed by five KBS board members against the Korea Communications Commission (now the Korea Media and Communications Commission) and the President, seeking confirmation of invalidity of the appointment of new directors, that "the President's disposition appointing seven KBS board members is canceled."

On July 31, 2024, under a two-member system consisting of Chairperson Lee Jinsook and Vice Chairperson Kim Taegyu, the Korea Communications Commission held a full meeting and newly recommended seven out of the eleven KBS board members corresponding to the then-ruling party (the People Power Party) quota. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol immediately approved the appointment plan thereafter.

The court held that "the Korea Communications Commission adopted the recommendation resolution in this case while three of the five commissioner positions stipulated in the Korea Communications Commission Act were vacant, which failed to meet the quorum requirement," and found that there were serious procedural defects in the appointment process.