"Kakao, Come In"... Science and ICT Committee Disrupted Over 'Yoon Young-chan Text' Controversy (Summary)

People Power Party demands 'Yoon's replacement on Science and Technology Committee' and stages walkout

On the afternoon of the 8th, at the National Assembly plenary session hall, Representative Yoon Young-chan is exchanging messenger conversations with someone regarding the news of the People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young's negotiation group representative speech published on KakaoTalk News.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seulgina Jo, Heungsun Kim, Aeri Boo] The Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly descended into chaos on the 8th due to a dispute between ruling and opposition party lawmakers after a Telegram message, interpreted as instructing to summon a Kakao official to the National Assembly over issues with news editing on the portal main screen, was captured from Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan.

The committee held a plenary session in the afternoon to review agenda items but recessed around 7 p.m. amid controversy over Yoon’s message. Lawmakers from the People Power Party demanded Yoon’s reassignment from the committee and staged a collective walkout, and Park Kwang-on, the committee chair from the Democratic Party, declared the recess, leaving bill reviews and other meetings adrift.

"Complain to Kakao"...Opposition: "The True Face of Portal Domination"

During the plenary session of the National Assembly that day, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young delivered a representative speech. In the message captured in the news photo, Yoon’s office staff pointed out with a screenshot of the portal site, "Floor leader Joo’s speech is immediately reflected on the main page," and Yoon replied, "Complain to Kakao," and "Tell them to come in."

Regarding this, People Power Party lawmakers on the Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, including Park Sung-joong, issued a statement saying, "This reveals why the Blue House sent Yoon to the National Assembly. Rumors have been rampant that the current Blue House and ruling party have been manipulating the portal, and this incident exposes that issue," adding, "It is an abuse of the press and the true face of (the ruling party’s) portal domination."

Yoon, a former Dong-A Ilbo reporter, served as vice president of Naver and senior secretary for public communication at the Blue House before entering the 21st National Assembly after winning the general election in April.

Members of the People Power Party, Park Seong-jung, Park Dae-chul, and Heo Eun-ah, who are members of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, are issuing a statement on the 8th in front of the committee meeting room regarding the messenger conversation of Democratic Party member Yoon Young-chan about the exposure of portal site news by Floor Leader Joo Ho-young. [Image source=Yonhap News]

"Why Only the Opposition Floor Leader’s Speech on the Main Page... Tried to Find Out the Circumstances"

People Power Party lawmakers urged, "The government and ruling party must conduct a thorough investigation, prevent recurrence, reassign Yoon from the committee, and take legal action to bear strict responsibility."

As the controversy grew, Yoon said at the committee plenary, "I confirmed through monitoring Kakao’s main page during Rep. Lee Nak-yeon’s speech the previous day, but the article did not appear," adding, "I did not complain about that because I thought it was editorial freedom."

He continued, "However, today (the 8th), as soon as floor leader Joo started his speech, the article appeared on the main page," and explained, "I thought I should find out why there was such a difference in the same matter, the speeches of the ruling and opposition leaders, which were already scheduled, so I told them to look into it."

Yoon rebutted as the message escalated into a portal suppression controversy, saying, "I have the freedom to fully express my opinions about what I feel," and "It is very regrettable that this issue is being framed as suppression of the media and the portal."

Kakao "Lee’s Speech Also Exposed on Main Page" Expresses Reluctance

Kakao is bewildered by the sudden controversy. In fact, Lee’s speech, which Yoon questioned for not appearing on the main page and raised fairness issues, was also exposed on the main page.

A Kakao official emphasized, "There is a record that Lee’s speech was also exposed on the main page the previous day, and we are disclosing all exposure records," adding, "News is edited by artificial intelligence (AI), so there is absolutely no human arbitrary intervention."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.