Ruling and opposition parties clashed over a vote on recommendations for standing commissioners to the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) allocated to the National Assembly. The person recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea cleared the plenary hurdle, while the person recommended by the People Power Party was voted down. Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea recommended Professor Go Min-su of Gangneung-Wonju National University, and the People Power Party recommended Chun Young-sik, head of PenN Mike, as KMCC standing commissioners.
At a plenary session held on the afternoon of the 26th, the National Assembly approved the recommendation of Go Min-su as a KMCC standing commissioner with 228 votes in favor, 17 against, and 4 abstentions out of 249 lawmakers present. The recommendation of Chun Young-sik as a KMCC standing commissioner was rejected with 116 votes in favor, 124 against, and 9 abstentions out of 249 present.
When the recommendation for a KMCC standing commissioner put forward by the People Power Party was voted down, shouts erupted on the plenary floor. The People Power Party strongly protested to ruling party lawmakers, and the Democratic Party mentioned "insurrection" and left the chamber. During the exchange, a ruling party lawmaker said "hey, you" toward the People Power Party, prompting the People Power Party to demand an apology.
The broader pro-government camp voiced opposition to Chun Young-sik, the People Power Party's nominee. They cited that the outlet Chun heads defended former President Yoon Suk-yeol's Dec. 3 emergency martial law. There was also criticism that the People Power Party had recommended an "insurrection sympathizer" as a KMCC standing commissioner.
After a policy coordination meeting the same day, Kim Hyun-jung, the Democratic Party of Korea's floor spokesperson, told reporters, "It seems the Democratic Party's members of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee oppose Commissioner Chun Young-sik, and the journalists' union also held a press conference opposing him."
The Rebuilding Korea Party held a press conference the same day, saying, "Candidate Chun is someone who is trapped in a particular ideology, views the press through a biased lens, and took the lead in suppressing opposing forces," while The Progressive Party also noted, "The People Power Party is blatantly trying to place collaborators in insurrection into key posts."