On the 13th, the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee passed a revision to the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Act, enabling the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against the Chairperson of the Commission, led by the opposition party.
On the same day, the committee processed the revision through a vote, with attendance from opposition party members including the Democratic Party of Korea and the National Power party's secretary, Representative Choi Hyung-doo. The main point of the revision is to designate the chairperson of the Commission as a Minister-level political position and two committee members as Vice Minister-level political positions. Currently, the Commission is a private independent body, and the chairperson is also a civilian.
Additionally, the amendment includes provisions requiring a National Assembly personnel hearing prior to the chairperson's appointment and allows the National Assembly to vote on impeachment proceedings if the chairperson violates the Constitution or laws.
Both the Commission and the Broadcasting and Communications Commission expressed concerns about the amendment. The Commission noted that "the Commission has a larger regulatory nature than a rights remedy, so if it becomes an organization under the government, it will formalize the state's censorship function."
Acting Chairperson Kim Tae-kyu of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission opposed the amendment, stating that "considering the legislative intent of establishing the Commission as a private independent body to ensure the public interest and fairness of broadcasting content, careful discussions are needed."