Media Arbitration Act Agenda Adjustment Committee 'Opposition Party Quota' Standoff Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] As the amendment to the "Act on the Mediation and Relief of Damage in the Press" (Press Mediation Act) has been referred to the Agenda Coordination Committee of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the ruling and opposition parties are in a tense standoff over who will be appointed as the 'opposition party's' member.

According to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 18th, the amendment to the Press Mediation Act was referred to the Agenda Coordination Committee the day before. Do Jong-hwan, chairman of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, requested the Democratic Party and the People Power Party floor leaders to submit the list of Agenda Coordination Committee members by 12 noon that day.

A Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee member from the Democratic Party told Asia Economy in a phone call, "For the ruling party's quota, lawmakers Kim Seung-won, Lee Byung-hoon, Yoo Jung-joo, and Jeon Yong-gi are likely to be candidates." People Power Party lawmaker Choi Hyung-do said, "For the opposition party's quota, lawmakers Lee Dal-gon, Kim Seung-soo, who participated in the bill subcommittee, and myself will be nominated."

The controversial part is the 'opposition party's' Agenda Coordination Committee member. This is because Kim Eui-gyeom, a lawmaker from the Open Democratic Party, can be counted as 'opposition' as a member of a non-negotiating group. The People Power Party argues that Kim Eui-gyeom should be included in the ruling party's quota because he participated in drafting the ruling party's bill. On the other hand, the ruling party believes Kim Eui-gyeom should be counted as the opposition party's quota. A ruling party Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee member said, "The opposition is trying to buy time by requesting three members only from the People Power Party's quota," adding, "If this happens, the bills reviewed so far will become completely meaningless." Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after a party meeting that day, "If they try to include lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom in the Agenda Coordination Committee, the Democratic Party will be literally destroying democracy," and warned, "If they push the National Assembly into a deadlock in this way, all responsibility will lie with the Democratic Party."

The ruling party remains firm on processing the amendment to the Press Mediation Act within this month. Ko Yong-jin, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said at a press meeting after the morning Supreme Council meeting, "The Agenda Coordination Committee will probably be formed today, and we plan to process it tomorrow," emphasizing, "There is no change in the goal of processing the Press Mediation Act at the August extraordinary session based on submitting various amendments and adjustments."

The opposition party continues to criticize it as the 'press gag law.' Yang Jun-woo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "The public wonders what the current administration is so afraid of in its final days that it is only focused on preparing a strong shield," adding, "The People Power Party will stand with the people to block any attempt to control the press until the end."

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