Heated Debate Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over the Amendment to the Radio and Television Commission Establishment and Operation Act

Ruling Party: "We Acknowledge the Legitimacy of the Two-Person System Ourselves"
Opposition: "Obsessed with Specific Phrases to Mislead Public Opinion"

On the 13th, the Democratic Party of Korea proposed a bill to amend the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) as a party resolution, and the ruling and opposition parties clashed over related debates on the 16th.

Lee Sang-hwi, Chairman of the People Power Party's Special Media Committee, is holding a press conference on the morning of the 16th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the "Broadcasting and Communications Commission Act (Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission)" amendment proposed as a party resolution by the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Sang-hwi, chairman of the People Power Party's Media Special Committee, said at a National Assembly press conference that day regarding the Democratic Party's proposed amendment to the KCC Act, "They have themselves acknowledged the legality of the two-person system of the KCC," adding, "The Democratic Party has dismantled one of the important legal grounds they had previously cited as reasons for impeaching the KCC chairman."

He also stated, "They have admitted that decisions can be made with the attendance of just two presidential appointees, and 169 Democratic Party lawmakers, full of legal experts, approved this through a policy caucus," and "We welcome this and urge the Democratic Party to promptly recommend commissioners to cooperate in establishing a complete KCC system."

The KCC oversees broadcasting and telecommunications regulation and policy, and is composed of five standing commissioners: two appointed by the president (including the chairman) and three recommended by the National Assembly (one from the ruling party and two from the opposition). Currently, it operates with only the two presidential appointees.

The Democratic Party stated, "Since decisions can be made with the attendance of only the two presidential appointees, concerns have been raised about the need to introduce a quorum for decision-making," explaining the basis for submitting the amendment to the KCC Act.

Han Jun-ho, head of the Democratic Party's Media Reform Task Force and the main proposer of the KCC Act amendment, responded to the People Power Party's criticism that day by saying, "The ruling party is misleading public opinion by obsessing only over the word 'possible,' completely ignoring the overall context and intent," and added, "It is truly petty and pathetic."

Han criticized, "The problem is that the KCC held meetings without even the minimum meeting criteria (quorum), but the ruling party is spewing ignorant criticism without recognizing the difference between quorum and decision-making majority."

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