Seo Ki-seok Ousted as KBS Chairman... Park Jangbeom's Presidency at a Crossroads

New Chairman to Be Elected on March 11

Ki Seok Seo, Chairman of KBS. Photo by KBS

The board of directors of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has passed a vote of no confidence against Chairman Seo Ki-seok.

On March 4, the KBS board held an extraordinary meeting at its main office in Yeouido, Seoul, and voted on the agenda item concerning the vote of no confidence against Chairman Seo Ki-seok. The meeting was attended by ten board members, excluding Seo, and the motion passed with a majority in favor.

Last month, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the appointment recommendation for the 13th board members, made with only two members of the Korea Communications Commission in attendance, was illegal. As a result, the appointment was canceled, and the previous 12th board members returned, reshaping the composition of the board.

Chairman Seo refused to table the motion, stating, "In order to elect a new chairman, procedures for my dismissal or a vote of no confidence must first take place." Nevertheless, the vote of no confidence was passed at the meeting.

A former Constitutional Court justice, Seo Ki-seok was appointed as a substitute board member in August 2023 and is known to have led the dismissal of former president Kim Eui-cheol, as well as the appointments of former president Park Min and current president Park Jangbeom.

Kim Hyeon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea and secretary of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, stated in a February interview that "the status of Park Jangbeom as KBS president will be resolved within March." The KBS branch of the National Union of Media Workers called for the immediate initiation of procedures to dismiss Park Jangbeom, citing that he was appointed by unqualified board members.

The KBS board plans to hold another extraordinary meeting on March 11 to elect a new chairman. While Seo has stepped down as chairman, he retains his position as a board member and is eligible to participate in the vote for the new chairman.

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