National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee postpones deliberation on Media Arbitration Act... Re-discussion after gathering opposition party alternatives

Chairman Do Jong-hwan of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee is presiding over the full committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Park Juni] The review of the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act, which would allow claims for damages up to five times the amount of loss for false or manipulated reports caused by intentional or gross negligence of media outlets, has been postponed to next week.

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee was scheduled to hold a plenary meeting on the morning of the 12th to review the amendment to the "Act on Media Arbitration and Damage Relief," but decided to cancel the meeting through negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties. Discussions are expected to continue after the 17th.

The Democratic Party of Korea has requested the People Power Party to submit their bill by the 15th. Lee Dalgon, the opposition party's floor leader from the People Power Party, said at a press meeting after the floor leaders' consultation on the day, "They asked us to provide the People Power Party's proposal by around Sunday rather than holding the meeting today," adding, "We accepted that."

Jeon Yonggi, a Democratic Party member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, explained, "If the opposition party brings their proposal, there will be parts that need adjustment, so we want to discuss those again," and added, "The ruling and opposition parties will meet again for a meeting around next week." Although a plenary meeting is tentatively scheduled for the 17th, it is known that the People Power Party has not yet agreed.

Regarding the People Power Party's bill, Representative Choi Hyungdu said, "Both the People Power Party and the Justice Party have expressed their positions, and we have stated our stance at every meeting," and added, "Extending the application period for media arbitration and adding methods for applying for media arbitration are matters that can be sufficiently agreed upon."

The Democratic Party maintains its position to process the Media Arbitration Act at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 24th and at the plenary session on the 25th. The People Power Party is expected to counter by requesting the agenda adjustment committee. According to the National Assembly Act, if more than one-third of the relevant standing committee members apply for the formation of an agenda adjustment committee, a committee with an equal number of ruling and opposition members can operate for a period not exceeding 90 days.

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