Lee Dong-gwan's Remarks in Communist Party Organ Spark 'National Security Law Punishment' Controversy

Lee Dong-kwan Mentions 'Bronchus', Avoids Specific Answers
Opposition: "Must Reveal Bronchus... Could Face National Security Law Punishment"
Ruling Party: "It Was a Metaphor for Irresponsible Media"

As controversy continues over nominee for the Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Dong-gwan's remarks about the 'Communist Party organ,' the opposition party has escalated its offensive by bringing up the 'National Security Act punishment.'

Earlier on the 1st, as Lee arrived at the personnel hearing preparation office near the Government Gwacheon Complex, he stated, "The reason we do not call the newspapers and broadcasts of the Communist Party, which were very skillful in propaganda and agitation in the past, the media is because they do not convey facts and truth but rather convey claims."

However, when asked, "Do you think there is media like an organ?" he avoided answering by saying, "The people will judge, and the media companies themselves know well."

Candidate for Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Dong-gwan, arrived at an officetel building in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where the hearing preparation office was set up, on the morning of the 1st and responded to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News

The opposition raised their voices, demanding, "Reveal which media is like a Communist Party organ." On the 2nd, Jeong Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "Where in the Republic of Korea is the media like a Communist Party organ?" and added, "Clearly point it out and punish it under Article 7 of the National Security Act."

He continued, "It seems Lee Dong-gwan knows which media is Communist Party media, so if he knows, he should notify investigative and intelligence agencies," adding, "Otherwise, he will be punished under Article 10 of the National Security Act for 'failure to report a crime.'"

Yoon Young-chan, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee, said on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' program, "It is nothing less than a declaration of propaganda that they will not treat other media that do not suit their tastes and perspectives as media."

Members of media professional organizations and civil society groups are holding a press conference urging the resignation of Lee Dong-kwan, the nominee for chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, at his office located in Gwacheon. Photo by Yonhap News

Yoon said, "Since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, is there really any media that can be called a Communist Party organ engaging in propaganda and agitation? No one can answer that," and criticized, "Just because they reported on Biden's 'narrative' during President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to the U.S., can we say it is a 'Communist Party organ that constantly engages in propaganda and agitation'?"

On the other hand, the ruling party defended the nominee, saying the opposition is framing this as 'media control.'

Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement that day, saying, "Is comparing irresponsible media that distort facts, promote propaganda and agitation, or ride on propaganda and agitation to 'Communist Party media' revealing an intention to control the media?" He rebutted, "Labeling it as a 'media control technician' frame and opposing it from the start is merely an expression of the Democratic Party's strong will to maintain the 'tilted media environment' they created."

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