Lee Dong-gwan Hearing, Ruling Party Calls Him "Right Person" vs Opposition Accuses "Media Control" Debate

National Assembly Broadcasting and Communications Committee... Heated Scrutiny of Candidate Lee Dong-gwan
Democratic Party Attacks Over Media Control and Child Bullying Controversies
People Power Party... Rebuttal as "An Attempt to Normalize Broadcasting"

On the 18th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the qualifications and suitability of Lee Dong-gwan, the nominee for Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, during the parliamentary confirmation hearing. The Democratic Party criticized him as an "inappropriate nominee," citing his involvement in attempts to control the media during the Lee Myung-bak administration and allegations of school violence involving his children. The People Power Party countered by calling it "a political attack by the opposition." The hearing saw a significant absence of witnesses, reference persons, and submitted materials, resulting in more partisan exchanges than thorough verification.

Candidate for Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Dong-gwan, is taking an oath at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee held a plenary session that morning to conduct Lee's confirmation hearing. However, before the main hearing began, the opposition party voiced strong complaints about the insufficient submission of materials.

Min Hyung-bae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The issue of the nominee's children's school violence is a crucial topic today," adding, "Since numerous lawsuits and complaints were filed in 2010, we tried to review related documents, but they are not being provided. Neither family nor personal data is submitted due to lack of consent for personal information. Can this confirmation hearing proceed properly under these circumstances?"

Another Democratic Party lawmaker, Jung Pil-mo, expressed, "It is beyond regretful; it is deplorable," pointing out, "244 documents were not submitted. The response was a single line saying 'cannot provide' citing personal information, which is a non-responsive answer. How can we verify with such materials?"

Opposition party whip Cho Seung-rae noted that Lee's explanation and the testimony of the homeroom teacher at Hanah High School regarding the children's school violence allegations contradict each other, demanding, "Please have the reference person appear today, at least."

As Democratic Party lawmakers heavily criticized the insufficient submission of materials, ruling party whip Park Sung-joong responded, "The number of material requests for Lee's confirmation hearing exceeds 7,000, making it impossible to handle," adding, "This is three times the amount compared to when former Chairman Han Sang-hyuk was in office."

Candidate for Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Dong-gwan, is talking with an official at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party views President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval of the dismissal of Jeong Yeon-ju, Chairwoman of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, and the appointment of Lee, who has been criticized as a mastermind of media control, as steps toward media domination. Lee is suspected of orchestrating media control during the Lee Myung-bak administration while serving as Blue House spokesperson and senior secretary for public relations, allegedly mobilizing the National Intelligence Service and others. Additionally, controversies over his children's school violence have come under scrutiny. The Democratic Party accuses Lee of exerting undue pressure on the school to cover up the incidents. Other anticipated attacks include allegations of evading health insurance premiums by registering as a dependent, personnel recommendation requests through his spouse, and questions about the process of asset formation.

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated in the morning session, "He violently turned the entire broadcasting system into a subordinate structure of power," and added, "The Democratic Party will seek all possible measures to amend the Broadcasting Act, file injunctions to suspend the effectiveness of dismissal orders (such as for KBS board members), and control the illegal, unlawful, and lawless actions of the Korea Communications Commission."

On the other hand, the People Power Party evaluated Lee's appointment as an attempt to "normalize broadcasting." Park Dae-chul, the policy chief, said in the morning session, "KBS and MBC, controlled by the Democratic Party and labor unions, along with left-leaning media, are crying 'media control,' but they cannot forget their past when they acted as regime mouthpieces during the Moon Jae-in administration and enjoyed benefits," emphasizing, "Correcting this tilted playing field is broadcasting normalization." He added, "The starting point is today's confirmation hearing."

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