Jin Park, Seungmin Yoo, Heesook Yoon, and Jaehyung Choi "Must Join Forces to Fight Against the 'Media Control Act'"

Yoon Hee-sook "We Must Stop the Media Burqa Law at All Costs"

Park Jin, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on August 16 at the National Assembly Communication Office regarding the call by U.S. lawmakers from both parties for a Korea-U.S. vaccine swap. 2021.8.16 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the 23rd, Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General and a presidential pre-candidate from the People Power Party, along with lawmakers Park Jin and Yoon Hee-sook, held a press conference at the central party office, urging the party leadership to "promptly hold a joint meeting of candidates to launch a united struggle" to prevent the forced passage of the Act on the Mediation and Relief of Damage in the Press (Press Mediation Act). Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also shared the same intention but was unable to attend in person due to scheduling conflicts.

On the same day, the three candidates demanded not only a joint struggle through a joint meeting between the party leadership and presidential pre-candidates to block the amendment of the Press Mediation Act but also called for holding solidarity meetings with press organizations and an immediate halt to the forced passage. The amendment to the Press Mediation Act, which passed the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, is scheduled for final approval at the plenary session on the 25th.

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung (left) and Assemblywoman Yoon Hee-sook (center) are filming a dialogue video titled "The People's Lives and the Role of the State" on the afternoon of the 16th at a cafe in Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. On the right is the host, Professor Seo Min from Dankook University. 2021.8.16 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lawmaker Park Jin said, "We must stop the press control law that suppresses liberal democracy," adding, "Presidential candidates must stand at the forefront of the struggle." Park emphasized, "People Power Party presidential candidates should immediately join the solidarity struggle without personal considerations or political calculations."

Lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook pointed out, "The biggest producer of fake news is the Blue House and the ruling party," and criticized, "This method itself is like the burqa imposed on Afghan women." Yoon said, "It seems like they are trying to prevent any expression," and stressed, "We must stop it by any means." She also proposed solidarity meetings with press organizations.

Former Auditor General Choi Jae-hyung stated, "Immediately stop the attempt to forcibly pass the law that destroys press freedom," and warned sternly, "If the forced passage proceeds against the will of the people, it may face a nationwide movement for the resignation of the government."

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