Park Chandae "Ruling Party Opposes Broadcasting Act Alone... Yoon, If Vetoed, It Is the Path to Dictatorship"

Park Chan-dae, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged President Yoon Seok-yeol to accept the Broadcasting Four Laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, and the Act on the Establishment of the Korea Communications Commission) passed by the National Assembly, stating that exercising a veto would be no different from dictatorship.

Park Chan-dae, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a party meeting held on the morning of the 30th at the National Assembly after passing all the 'Broadcasting Four Laws'.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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After the plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th, Acting Leader Park said at a party meeting, "Some media outlets describe the Broadcasting Four Laws as 'passed solely by the opposition,' but seven out of eight parliamentary parties participated and overwhelmingly passed the bills," adding, "It is more accurate to say it was 'the ruling party's sole opposition' to reflect the essence of the situation." On that day, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, one of the Broadcasting Four Laws, with unanimous approval from all 189 members present. The Democratic Party, the Party for Justice and Innovation, the Reform Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the New Future Party all supported the passage of the Broadcasting Four Laws.

Acting Leader Park stated, "The reason the People Power Party solely opposes the Broadcasting Four Laws is clear. It is because President Yoon is firmly determined to control the broadcasting sector," and added, "Starting with the appointment process of the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Committee (MBC Board) members, the nomination of Lee Jin-sook as the Korea Communications Commission Chairperson candidate is being carried out like a military operation." He continued, "They may believe there are benefits to the regime from controlling broadcasting, but there is not a single benefit for the entire country," and warned, "If they suppress the media and seize control of broadcasting, they will only face criticism and ridicule from countries around the world, being labeled a dictatorship."

He also criticized that if President Yoon exercises his veto on the Broadcasting Four Laws, it would effectively amount to dictatorship. The People Power Party plans to recommend that President Yoon exercise his veto on the Broadcasting Four Laws. Acting Leader Park said, "There is no justification for the president to veto a bill overwhelmingly passed through democratic procedures in the National Assembly, the temple of the people's will," and added, "If he insists on vetoing, it is a declaration that he will inevitably take the path of dictatorship."

The Democratic Party plans to reintroduce the Broadcasting Four Laws if President Yoon exercises his veto. After the party meeting, Yoon Jong-gun, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters about the 'reintroduction of the Broadcasting Four Laws,' "It has not been discussed yet, but it will probably happen," and said, "We will do everything possible to prevent the Yoon administration's control over broadcasting. We have no choice but to continue until the pool of candidates for the Korea Communications Commission Chairperson in the Yoon administration is exhausted."

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