Ruling and Opposition Parties Begin Forming Consultative Body for Media Arbitration Act

Participation of NPP Lawmakers Jeon Ju-hye and Choi Hyung-doo
Mention of DP Lawmakers Kim Yong-min and Kim Jong-min

Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seok (center), Democratic Party Floor Leader Yoon Ho-jung (right), and People Power Party Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun are showing the agreement on forming a consultative body for the amendment of the Press Arbitration Act and the submission to the plenary session on September 27, at the Speaker's office in the National Assembly, Yeouido, Seoul, on the 31st of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee, Jinyoung Jeon, Juni Park] The ruling and opposition parties have begun forming an '8-member consultative body' to discuss amendments to the "Act on the Mediation and Relief of Damage in the Press (Press Arbitration Act)." Given the significant differences in positions regarding the contents of the Press Arbitration Act, difficulties are expected until the final formation of the consultative body.

On the 1st, the chief floor leaders of both parties met at the People Power Party's chief floor leader's office to discuss the formation plan for the 8-member consultative body related to the Press Arbitration Act. According to the bipartisan agreement, the 8-member consultative body will be composed of two lawmakers from each party and two media and related experts recommended by each party. From the People Power Party, lawmakers Jeon Ju-hye and Choi Hyung-doo have been decided to participate, while from the Democratic Party, lawmakers Kim Yong-min and Kim Jong-min are being mentioned. The appointment of experts will be made later.

Although both parties hurried to form the consultative body, it is uncertain whether the discussions will proceed properly. On the same day, Democratic Party floor leader Yoon Ho-jung and People Power Party floor leader Kim Ki-hyun, who appeared together on a radio program, revealed persistent differences over key issues. Floor leader Yoon emphasized, "Both parties agreed to submit and process the bill on the 27th," but added, "It will be submitted and processed without any clear conditions." On the other hand, floor leader Kim said, "If there is no agreement, we need to take more time to discuss this issue."

There are also significant differences in positions regarding the scope of the consultative body's discussions. Although both parties agreed to discuss only the Press Arbitration Act through the consultative body, the Democratic Party plans to push for three other package bills during the regular session: amendments to the Broadcasting Act (improving public broadcasting governance), the Information and Communications Network Act (one-person media and YouTubers), and the Newspaper Act (prohibition of portal news arrangement). Regarding the controversial presumed intentional and negligent clause in the Press Arbitration Act, floor leader Yoon stated, "We have never agreed to delete it," whereas floor leader Kim presented a completely different condition, saying, "Of course, it should be discussed after it is deleted."

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