Hong Seok-jun "Choi Min-hee's Political Bias Goes Too Far... Should Retract"

Published 10 Apr.2023 08:44(KST)

Hong Seok-jun, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee (STIBC) from the People Power Party, raised his voice demanding the withdrawal of Choi Min-hee, a standing commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) appointed by the Democratic Party, citing excessive political bias.

On the 10th, Hong said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' program, "I hope the Democratic Party withdraws the nomination of Commissioner Choi." The Democratic Party passed the recommendation for Commissioner Choi alone at the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th of last month, but the Presidential Office has not yet made the appointment.

Hong Seok-jun, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Hong stated, "While describing Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, as a 'successful Jeon Tae-il,' during the presidential election period, they made allegations such as sexual harassment suspicions based on a photo of President Yoon Seok-youl (candidate) with a female restaurant owner in Gangwon Province with his arm around her shoulder." He added, "When the Justice Party criticized former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment case, they made unreasonable criticisms again. Such a biased person is not suitable as a KCC commissioner."

He also pointed out that the Democratic Party's appointment of Commissioner Choi violates the relevant laws. He explained, "According to the KCC Act, the president nominates two members, and the National Assembly nominates three members, among whom one must be from the president's affiliated party. In other words, the ruling party nominates three members and the opposition party two, clearly stipulating a 3-to-2 ratio." He continued, "However, if Commissioner Choi is nominated by the Democratic Party now, the Democratic Party will have four nominees."

He also raised concerns about Commissioner Choi's past, including a 1.5 million won fine for spreading false information and his experience as a full-time vice president of the Korea Information Industry Association. Hong said, "Article 10, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the KCC Act stipulates disqualification for those engaged in broadcasting and communications businesses or who have been engaged within three years prior to appointment." He added, "The most important role of a KCC commissioner is to institutionally block fake news causing conflicts in broadcasting and communications, so the charge of spreading false information is a very serious flaw for a commissioner."

When asked by the host whether the Presidential Office should reject the appointment, Hong suggested the necessity of the veto power, saying, "In the past, during President Moon Jae-in's administration, there were many cases where the president rejected appointments because the nominees recommended by us were deemed unsuitable, such as for the Past Truth Commission."

He added, "Although I am not fully aware of the president's stance, I understand that the Presidential Office is taking this issue very seriously."

He also expressed the position that the veto should be exercised against the Broadcasting Act amendment bill expected to be passed solely by the Democratic Party. He said, "The current Democratic Party's proposal sets the number of directors in the broadcasting organization at 21, but no broadcasting-related or corporate organization worldwide has as many as 21 directors." He continued, "Even employees of the KCC are saying internally that having 21 directors would make it impossible to work effectively."