Choo Mi-ae: "Democratic Party Must Escape Self-Frame of 'Separate Collection of Subscription Fees'"

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae raised her voice, saying that the Democratic Party of Korea should break free from the self-imposed frame regarding 'separate collection of subscription fees.' She argued that the Democratic Party, which previously advocated for separate collection of TV license fees, is now insisting on integrated collection of subscription fees not out of hypocrisy but to uphold public broadcasting principles.

On the 5th, Choo stated on her social media (SNS), "If you get trapped in a self-imposed frame, you are misunderstood as a party that wavers without conviction."

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae attended the prosecution reform forum held at the National Assembly on the 10th and gave a presentation on the topic of "The Contradictions and Evils of Prosecutors' Direct Investigation Authority." Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Her mention of the 'self-imposed frame' appears to be in response to media reports that the Democratic Party decided not to oppose the separate collection of KBS subscription fees as a party stance during a closed supreme council meeting on the 3rd. There is concern that if the Democratic Party, which previously advocated for separate collection of subscription fees, opposes it as a party stance, it could be criticized for hypocrisy (naeronambul: "romance if I do it, adultery if others do it").

However, former Minister Choo raised her voice, saying, "In the past, the Democratic Party advocated for separate collection of TV license fees because KBS had become a mouthpiece for the regime and lost its public broadcasting nature. Now, the Democratic Party supports KBS, which refuses the oppressive regime's pressure to become a mouthpiece and insists on upholding public broadcasting principles, and adopts integrated collection of subscription fees as a party stance. I absolutely cannot understand why this change of position is considered hypocrisy."

She emphasized that the situation now is different from before. Former Minister Choo said, "It is not about being coaxed to side with the opposition but about consistency in protecting public broadcasting and freedom of the press."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Korea Communications Commission held a plenary meeting and passed a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Broadcasting Act, which centers on the separate collection of subscription fees.

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