The first hearing at the National Assembly on broadcasting control

At the so-called ‘broadcasting control hearing’ of the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, the governing and opposition parties fought over the legitimacy of the public broadcasting board election process.

Lawmakers from the opposition party criticized last month that Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Jin-sook quickly pushed through the appointment of Vice Chairman Kim Tae-gyu and two other members of the Promotion Association’s board. Korea Broadcasting Culture and KBS, majority shareholders of MBC.

Representative Lee Hoon-ki of the Democratic Party of Korea said, “There are problems such as illegal two-person voting, problems with meeting operational procedures, requests for rejection without a legal basis, and a resolution without consideration.” The Communications Commission said, “It was used as a tool.”

Representative Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party said, against the announcement of the appointment of leaders by a visiting team that said, “Interviews can be conducted when necessary,” in reality, it was to set up the appointment on the same day without an interview. He said, “He can see that he has gone out, but there is a procedural problem.”

In response, the ruling party defended that there was no legal problem with the Korea Communications Commission making a decision under a two-member system.

People’s Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon said, “The current law does not say that ‘the Korea Communications Commission recommends or appoints KBS and visiting directors,’ and it does not specify specific procedures. He said, “It is legal no matter how the decision is made.”

Representative Shin Seong-beom argued that since the court has stopped the recruitment of new board members by visiting members, the second and third hearings should be postponed until the to rule the main case on the 26th.

Key witnesses, including Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Jin-sook, Acting Chairman Kim Tae-gyu, and newly appointed KBS and Bang Moon-jin, were absent from the hearing. , and the National Assembly intends to hold the second and third broadcasting controls. auditions on the 14th and 21st.