People Power Party's Media Special Committee. Yonhap News

The People Power Party on the 28th strongly opposed President Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Professor Kim Jong-chul of Yonsei University's Law School as the candidate for the first Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee (BMCC) chairman, calling it "a clear attempt to control the media and a political appointment that threatens freedom of expression."

The party's Media Special Committee (Chairman: Rep. Lee Sang-hwi) issued a statement on the same day, stating, "Candidate Kim lacks any practical experience in broadcasting and communication policy and is a representative 'poly-professor' who has aligned himself with leftist organizations such as Participatory Solidarity and Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society)."

The committee criticized the candidate, a constitutional law scholar, for his past remarks regarding the suspension of President Lee's trial for violating the Public Official Election Act. Kim had stated, "The inclusion of the immunity from prosecution in the Constitution is to guarantee the stability and term of the presidency, so the decision to suspend the trial is justifiable." The committee called this a "typical example of seeking favor through distorted scholarship" and stated, "It would be no exaggeration to call him Lee Jae-myung's stooge."

It further urged, "If such a person is to oversee media policy, there is a high concern that the innovation and global competitiveness of South Korea's broadcasting and communication industries will severely regress. We demand the immediate withdrawal of this nomination."

Rep. Kim Jang-kyum, a former MBC president, stated on Facebook, "The broadcasting, media, and communication sectors are South Korea's industrial competitiveness and the foundation of liberal democracy. Appointing someone with neither expertise nor experience threatens the industry, the market, and the daily lives of our citizens." He added, "We will never allow an unqualified candidate to pass through the personnel confirmation hearing."

Yonhap News