Opposition Demands Withdrawal of Lee Dong-gwan's Nomination... Ruling Party Says "Focus on Approval Ratings"

Sharp Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Nomination of Lee Dong-gwan as KCC Chairman

President Yoon Suk-yeol's nomination of Lee Dong-gwan, a special advisor for external cooperation at the Presidential Office who has been embroiled in controversy over allegations of school violence involving his child, as the new chairman of the Korea Communications Commission on the 28th has prompted the opposition party to launch an all-out campaign demanding the 'withdrawal of the appointment.' The ruling party responded by calling them a "whining party" and told them to focus on their falling approval ratings.

Go Min-jung, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairperson of the party's media special committee, held an urgent press conference in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day titled 'Condemnation of the Nomination of Special Advisor Lee Dong-gwan.' She questioned, "Has the issue of his son's school violence allegations been resolved? Can our society just let this pass like this?"

Go raised her voice, saying, "In 2010, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, journalists were surveilled and blacklists were created, and despite the clear existence of such documents before our eyes, do we have to accept that person as the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission?"

On the 28th, Go Min-jung, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at the "Emergency Press Conference Condemning the Appointment of Special Advisor Lee Dong-gwan" held in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office.
[Photo by Go Min-jung, Supreme Council Member Facebook]

Song Gap-seok, also a Supreme Council member, criticized in his remarks at the Supreme Council meeting, "The title of this special advisor, who is known as the epitome of media oppression, seems to be a qualification rather than a disqualification for President Yoon Suk-yeol, whose mind is solely focused on media suppression."

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won criticized, "It is not the role of the President of the Republic of Korea to take control of broadcasting, which is the flower of democracy," and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min pointed out, "The nomination of the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission is an attempt to nullify freedom of the press."

Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the Justice Party, said, "(This special advisor) is a person whose career is filled solely with relationships that protect power," adding, "This special advisor lacks even the minimum neutrality required to handle the media and is a candidate not even worth the time for a confirmation hearing. Withdraw Lee Dong-gwan's nomination as chairman of the Korea Communications Commission immediately."

On the other hand, the ruling party dismissed the opposition's criticism as "whining" and defended the appointment of the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission. Park Sung-joong, the ruling party's floor spokesperson on the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, wrote on social media, "As soon as Lee was nominated, the Democratic Party rushed to the Presidential Office to throw a tantrum," adding, "They are making absurd claims such as broadcasting takeover, media control, and historical regression, all of which suit them well."

He emphasized, "Today, a Gallup Korea poll showed the Democratic Party's approval rating in the 20% range," and said, "People are struggling with their livelihoods, but the Democratic Party opposes the separate collection of broadcasting fees and constantly obstructs the government's efforts to normalize the Korea Communications Commission, so the public has raised a whip." Park Soo-young, director of the Yeouido Institute, also shared the poll results on social media that day, pointing out, "The Democratic Party has started to hit second place in approval ratings."

Jeon Ju-hye, floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, retorted, "It is the Democratic Party that should stop its ambition to seize control of broadcasting," and said, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, the Korea Communications Commission manipulated the re-approval scores for TV Chosun to silence the comprehensive programming channel, which was media oppression. This is what is called 'broadcasting takeover.'"

She added, "Instead of rushing to the Presidential Office to shout for the withdrawal of the nomination, the Democratic Party should devote themselves to preparing for the confirmation hearing," and said, "Now is the time to consider follow-up measures for changes in the separate collection system of broadcasting fees and ways to restore the trust of the collapsed public broadcasting."

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