KOREA: Opposition calls for suspending media reform

Democratic Party lawmakers say Korea Communications Commission should suspend plans to implement media reforms since Constitutional Court may rule the National Assembly vote unconstitutional

The Korea Times
Tuesday, July 28, 2009

By Kang Hyun-kyung

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Tuesday vowed to consider suspending TV ads aimed at informing the public about details of the media bills that were passed by the governing Grand National Party (GNP) last week amid a brawl.

KCC Chairman Choi See-joong, however, made it clear that he and his staff would go ahead with plans to prepare for technology convergence after the bills go into effect, insisting it was their job.

Choi made the remarks in a meeting with six lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), including Rep. Jun Byung-hun, who visited Choi's office to protest the measures.

The lawmakers demanded Choi stop working on action plans, claiming that the Constitutional Court could rule the Assembly vote to have been unconstitutional.

The DP demand came a day after Speaker Kim Hyong-o sent the bills to the government. They will take effect after President Lee Myung-bak has signed off on them.

Upon a request from the KCC, two national televisions -- KBS and SBS -- and cable news network YTN have aired the ads since Monday.

Rep. Jun and his fellow DP lawmakers claimed that airing the TV ads is inappropriate at present, because it is uncertain if the bill to allow newspapers and chaebol to own 10- and 30-percent stakes in national televisions and cable news networks, respectively, will eventually go into effect.

DP lawmakers filed a court injunction against National Assembly Speaker Kim, as well as Vice Speaker Lee Yoon-sung who took the podium when voting took place, claiming they infringed on lawmakers' rights to read and vote on bills.

They requested that the Constitutional Court review the voting process carefully to determine whether there was a procedural flaw in one of the votes on the bills.

The DP also filed a separate petition requesting the court to suspend the bills until it announces a ruling, contending that the KCC taking action plans could lead to irreversible damage in the media industry if the court finds voting fraud.

Asked how long it would take for the court to determine the results, Roh Hee-beom, a court public relations official, said he could not make any comment as justices had not yet started studying the case.

"Justices are recommended to complete the case involving jurisdictional disputes normally within six months, but the rule is not binding. Therefore, it is fair to say that it could take longer than that because a jurisdictional dispute requires the court to have oral arguments by attorneys from both parties, which takes time," Roh told The Korea Times.

The GNP and the DP are working on securing witnesses, supporting files and pieces of evidence to prepare for oral arguments.

DP lawmakers demanded the Assembly Secretariat give closed circuit television footage to them so that they can use it as evidence supporting voting fraud. But the staff refused the DP demand, causing the two sides to trade barbs.

The ruling party, meanwhile, warned the DP, saying it would consider taking legal action against DP lawmakers who used force to prevent GNP lawmakers from voting on the media bills last week.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009