Park Ji-won to Automatically Dismissed Lee Jinsuk: "Now Buy Bread with Your Personal Card"

Broadcasting Media Communications Commission Act Passes,
Lee Jinsuk Automatically Dismissed
Park Ji-won: "It's Over Now... No More Opportunity for Nonsensical Remarks"

With the National Assembly passing a bill to abolish the Korea Communications Commission and establish the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission, Chairperson Lee Jinsuk of the Korea Communications Commission was automatically dismissed. The reactions from the ruling and opposition parties were sharply divided.

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, posted on his social media account immediately after the bill passed, stating, "The Act on the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission has passed. Lee Jinsuk, your time as chairperson is over." He added, "The president should immediately promulgate the law so that there is no further opportunity for nonsense." He also sarcastically remarked, "Now you can freely buy bread with your personal credit card." He emphasized, "Broadcasting should belong to the people, regardless of the administration," and asserted, "President Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party will demonstrate what that truly means."

Lee Jinsuk, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is holding a press conference on the Act on the Establishment of the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News

On September 27, the National Assembly passed the bill to establish the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission in a plenary session, with 176 votes in favor and 1 against. The bill abolishes the Korea Communications Commission, which was established in 2008, and creates a new body by integrating the existing functions of the commission with those related to pay broadcasting under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

With the passage of this law, the Korea Communications Commission system, which had been in place for 17 years, will come to an end, and a new Broadcasting Media Communications Commission system will be launched. In addition, upon the law's enforcement, the chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission will lose their position regardless of their term.

Chairperson Lee Jinsuk strongly objected to the decision. Immediately after the bill passed the National Assembly, she stated, "What kind of law is this?" and added, "I have mixed feelings, but ultimately, I feel that this is a serious crisis for Korea." She also pointed out, "The Act on the Establishment of the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission is essentially no different from the current law, except for its name."

In particular, regarding her automatic dismissal, she argued, "There is insufficient rational basis for only political appointees to be automatically dismissed," and criticized, "It is dangerous to designate the chairperson of the Broadcasting Media Communications Review Committee as a political appointee and to apply National Assembly hearings and impeachment procedures." She added, "The inclusion of many elements of post-censorship is a concern that has also been raised by civic groups."

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