Democratic Party to Propose Broadcasting Three Laws as Party Bill This Week... "Focusing Efforts on Passing the Plenary Session"

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to propose the 'Broadcasting Three Acts' (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act) as a party bill within this week. Furthermore, they plan to launch a 'speed campaign' to pass the Broadcasting Three Acts in the National Assembly plenary session by next month.

On the 4th, Han Junho, the head of the Democratic Party of Korea's Media Reform Task Force, is speaking at the inauguration ceremony and the first meeting held at the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 11th, the Democratic Party's Media Reform Task Force (TF) held a 'Legislative Public Hearing for the Normalization of Public Broadcasting' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Han Junho, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the TF, stated, "We plan to propose the Broadcasting Three Acts as a party bill as early as this week," adding, "We must conduct the public hearing in depth and ensure that the Broadcasting Three Acts and the amendment to the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC Act) pass smoothly without any mistakes through the party bill proposal."

The Democratic Party reintroduced the Broadcasting Three Acts in the 22nd National Assembly after President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his veto power against them. Following the proposal of the Broadcasting Three Acts by lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae on the 31st of last month, lawmakers Lee Hun-gi and Choi Min-hee also submitted bills. The Broadcasting Three Acts proposed by the lawmakers mainly aim to increase the number of directors on the public broadcasting board and expand the authority to recommend directors externally. However, unlike the special investigation law on alleged external pressure in the investigation of Corporal Chae's death, these were not proposed as party bills, resulting in differences in specific details.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jeong-heon said, "Public broadcasting in the Republic of Korea is in a critical crisis," adding, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration's media suppression and broadcasting control are intensifying." He continued, "The greatest historical mission of the 22nd National Assembly is to protect freedom of the press and secure the independence and fairness of public broadcasting," explaining, "Even if the administration changes, we will establish a sustainable governance structure for public broadcasting to fulfill the public's right to know and remove obstacles for media workers in pursuing the truth."

The Democratic Party aims to pass the Broadcasting Three Acts by next month. Lawmaker Lee Hun-gi said, "All Democratic Party lawmakers are sincerely pushing for a speed campaign," adding, "We are concentrating our efforts to pass the Broadcasting Three Acts in the plenary session by early July at all costs."

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