Democratic Party Adopts Party Stance on Three Broadcasting Laws... Expected to Pass by August

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to adopt the 'Broadcasting Three Acts' (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act), which President Yoon Seok-yeol had vetoed, as the party's official stance and proceed with their passage. Similar to the Special Prosecutor Act on the investigation into allegations of external pressure in the death case of Corporal Chae (Chae Corporal Special Prosecutor Act), the party plans to expedite the process and pass the bills as early as August.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 13th, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a policy meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "There are many urgent livelihood and reform bills, but we held this policy meeting to select and promote bills that need to be processed quickly as the party's official stance." He added, "If you discuss and present bills centered on standing committees, we will debate them through the lawmakers' meeting, decide on the party stance, and push forward swiftly."

The Democratic Party plans to handle the amendment to the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC Act) together with the existing Broadcasting Three Acts through the lawmakers' meeting. The Broadcasting Three Acts mainly aim to significantly increase the number of directors of public broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and EBS, and expand the nomination rights for directors to external sectors such as academia and civil society. The KCC Act is a bill to increase the minimum number of commissioners required to convene or pass resolutions at KCC meetings to four or five. Currently, the KCC has been operating with a two-person system for about 10 months, consisting of Chairman Kim Hong-il and Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in, both appointed and recommended by President Yoon Seok-yeol.

The Democratic Party's move to reintroduce the Broadcasting Three Acts, which President Yoon vetoed, is interpreted as an effort to pressure the administration. Kim Hyun, the Democratic Party's spokesperson for the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee (STIBC), said on the previous day’s MBC radio program 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "Since the public judged the various illegal and unlawful acts that damaged public broadcasting under the Yoon administration, even within the People Power Party there will be support for passing the Broadcasting Three Acts," adding, "If the president exercises his veto, we will put more effort and roles into ensuring its passage."

The Democratic Party is expected to quickly pass the Broadcasting Three Acts with the goal of implementation in August. This is in consideration of the expiration of the terms of the board members of the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency, the major shareholder of KBS and MBC, on August 12 and 31, respectively. The party intends to pass the law before the new board members are appointed. Unlike the version proposed during the 21st National Assembly, a clause has been newly added this time to enforce the law immediately upon promulgation so that the Broadcasting Three Acts can be applied as soon as the new board members are appointed.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to adopt the Household Debt Support Act, the National Advanced Strategic Industry Act, and a resolution urging the withdrawal of Japan's Sado Mine from UNESCO World Heritage listing as party stances. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, urged the passage of the Household Debt Support Act at the previous day’s Supreme Council meeting, saying, "What will happen to the employees and families attached if one million self-employed people go out of business?" The Household Debt Support Act mainly involves long-term installment repayment of loans taken during the COVID-19 period.

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