People Power Party's 'Portal Fairness Countermeasure Special Committee'... Government and Ruling Party Public Opinion Manipulation Status Check (Comprehensive)

Yoon Young-chan's Text Called 'Druwa Gate'
Joo Ho-young: "Portal Censorship Reveals Moon Administration's True Colors"
Submission of Resignation and Disciplinary Action Requests to the Science and ICT Committee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 15th, the People Power Party held the first meeting of the 'Portal Fairness Countermeasure Special Committee' to investigate the controversy over government and ruling party public opinion manipulation triggered by Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan's 'Kakao News editing pressure text messages.' The People Power Party has labeled this incident as the 'Druwa Gate' and is taking a tough stance. This is interpreted as an attempt to cause public discontent against the government and ruling party.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the appointment ceremony and the first meeting of the special committee held at the National Assembly that day, “While talking about cooperation, communication, justice, and fairness in front, the duplicity of censoring and adjusting the arrangement of portal articles by putting forward a first-term lawmaker who was formerly the Blue House's Chief of Public Relations is the true face of the Moon Jae-in administration of the Democratic Party.” He added, “We will prepare and implement fundamental measures to ensure that portals are never again swayed by political power.”

The Portal Fairness Countermeasure Special Committee plans to investigate the actual situation of public opinion manipulation through its own investigation along with legal actions such as criminal charges against lawmaker Yoon. The committee chairman is Kim Ki-hyun of the People Power Party, and members include lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as well as external members such as lawyers and media experts. Kim said, “I believe Yoon’s coercive acts were never accidental or one-time events,” adding, “The blatant and direct coercion mixed with the intention of manipulating public opinion, carried out so casually, is an act of national disorder that cannot be tolerated.”

The People Power Party is focusing heavy criticism on lawmaker Yoon. Kim Ye-ryeong, the newly appointed spokesperson for the People Power Party, targeted Yoon in her first statement. In a statement on the 14th, Kim said, “Yoon’s behavior is a serious threat shaking the foundation of democracy,” and pointed out, “Isn’t he a figure who was part of Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign and served as the Blue House’s Chief of Public Communication? Since he was the head of the Moon Jae-in administration’s media policy, which emphasized fairness, justice, and media democracy, the problem seems even more serious.” She added, “The prosecution must conduct a swift and thorough investigation to prevent our democracy from regressing,” and “The National Assembly must prove through committee member reassignments and strict disciplinary actions that the authority given by the people must never be abused.”

Lawmakers from the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee submitted a request to Speaker Park Byeong-seok on the 11th demanding lawmaker Yoon’s resignation from the standing committee. The People Power Party believes Yoon violated Article 2 (Maintenance of Dignity), Article 3 (Duty of Integrity), and Article 4 (Prohibition of Abuse of Authority) of the National Assembly’s Code of Ethics for Lawmakers. They said, “(Lawmaker Yoon) has lost his qualification as a committee member by abandoning the crucial duties of fairness and integrity that guarantee and take responsibility for freedom of the press and broadcasting, and by abusing his position.” Kim Seong-won, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, also submitted a disciplinary request against lawmaker Yoon to the National Assembly’s legislative affairs office.

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