SEOUL, - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) urged President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday to withdraw the nomination of a former senior prosecutor for chief of the state broadcasting watchdog, claiming the designation is an attempt to increase government influence over broadcasters.
Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, the DP's floor leader, made the remarks, a day after Yoon named Kim Hong-il, a former prosecutor and the chief of the state anti-corruption agency, to replace Lee Dong-kwan as chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).
Lee resigned last week ahead of a parliamentary vote on his impeachment.
"It is the president's declaration to manipulate the KCC and take control of broadcasting," Hong said in a policy coordination meeting of the party. "People cannot understand what (the nominee), with no experience whatsoever in broadcasting and communications, can do for the future of the media industry."
Hong also accused Kim of using his five-month term as chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to refer some board members of MBC TV to the prosecution for investigations in an attempt to pave the way for the government to tighten its grip on broadcasters.
"Nominee Kim is unfit to be the chief of the KCC," Hong said. "We strongly urge the president to withdraw Kim's nomination and name a new person who meets the eye level of the people and is capable of mapping out the future of broadcasting and communications, before it is too late."
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) criticized the DP, saying its constant disapproval has only kept the KCC in prolonged gridlock.
"The speedy selection of the KCC chief reflects the sense of urgency that we can no longer leave the KCC, tasked with promoting and fostering a fair broadcasting environment, in a vegetative state," said Rep. Park Jung-ha, the PPP's chief spokesperson, in a statement.
Such a clash over the position of the broadcasting watchdog chief is widely believed to be part of efforts by the rival parties to put themselves in better positions ahead of April's parliamentary elections in consideration of the huge influence that broadcasting stations have over voters.
Source: Yonhap News Agency