Over-defense, extended from the original 19 days to 18 to 19 days… W “One-sided” opposition
Choi Min-hee “We need to eradicate the practice of thinking that you can survive one day”
The National Assembly Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee adjourned on the 5th after 30 minutes due to disagreement over the date of the confirmation hearing for Park Jang-beom, the president of the Korea Broadcasting Corporation (KBS).
At the National Security Committee meeting held at 10 a.m. on this day, Choi Min-hee, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised a motion to hold a personnel hearing for Candidate Park over two days on the 18th and 19th.
The People Power Party, which initially knew that it would decide on the agenda of holding a one-day personnel hearing on the 19th, immediately protested when the opposition party raised a motion to extend the hearing to two days.
Rep. Choi Hyeong-du, the ruling party secretary, protested, saying, “It is really unexpected to suddenly say that it will be two days,” and “It is impossible to hold a hearing for two days when we are busy with schedule ahead of the budget deliberation.”
Rep. Park Chung-kwon said, “The ruling party obviously agrees that we need to fully verify whether the KBS president is the right person,” but criticized, “The current decision-making process itself is actually a very violent method that did not exist in the existing standing committee.”
The opposition party’s position is that there is no problem. Rep. Kim Hyeon, a member of the Democratic Party, countered, saying, “The fact that a candidate recommended by the illegal public broadcasting board of directors system is being held is a problem that makes me feel ashamed,” and added, “Two days are needed to conduct a thorough verification.”
Rep. Lee Hae-min of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party said, “As I said during the last confirmation hearing for Korea Communications
Chairman Choi said, “I think we need to eradicate the practice of thinking of personnel hearings as a passing ritual that can be endured for a day, like in the past National Assembly,” and added, “There is no problem.”
Candidate Park joined KBS in 1994 and served as a London correspondent, head of the current affairs production department, head of the social affairs department, and chief of staff. He hosted the KBS debate program ‘Late Night Debate’ and the policy diagnosis program ‘Sunday Diagnosis’, and since November of last year, he has been a member of ‘KBS’ Worked as an anchor for ‘News 9’. He was also in charge of hosting the KBS Special Talk to the President’s Office, a conversation broadcast with President Yoon Seok-yeol last February.
In a New Year’s conversation with President Yoon last February, Candidate Park sparked controversy as to whether he was trying to downplay the suspicion by using the expression “so-called pouch, a small bag from a foreign company” in relation to the suspicion of receiving luxury bags from First Lady Kim Kun-hee.
The president of KBS is appointed by the president after a recommendation from the board of directors and a personnel hearing at the National Assembly. The term of office is three years, from December 10, 2027, to December 9, 2027.
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Choi Min-hee, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Chairman Choi. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent developments surrounding the confirmation hearing for KBS president candidate Park Jang-beom. It seems like this issue has sparked quite a bit of debate in the National Assembly. Can you give us a brief overview of what transpired during the committee meeting?
Choi Min-hee: Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. Yes, the committee meeting was indeed contentious. We attempted to schedule a two-day personnel hearing for Candidate Park on the 18th and 19th of this month. However, the People Power Party strongly opposed this proposal, claiming it was unfair to suddenly extend the hearing. They preferred a one-day hearing, which, in my opinion, will not allow sufficient time to thoroughly vet the qualifications of the candidate.
Time.news Editor: What do you believe are the consequences of having just one day for such a critical hearing?
Choi Min-hee: Holding the hearing for only one day perpetuates the notion that these processes are mere formalities. As I mentioned during the meeting, we need to eradicate the thought that personnel hearings are just a passing ritual. We owe it to the public and to the integrity of our institutions to conduct a thorough and comprehensive review.
Time.news Editor: The People Power Party spokesperson, Rep. Choi Hyeong-du, mentioned that the announcement for a two-day hearing was unexpected given their busy legislative schedule. How do you respond to that?
Choi Min-hee: While I understand the constraints of scheduling, it’s crucial that we prioritize diligence over convenience in these matters. The qualifications of the KBS president influence not just our broadcasting landscape but also public trust in our media institutions. We cannot cut corners simply because of scheduling conflicts.
Time.news Editor: It seems that this decision is also reflecting broader partisan division. How do you foresee this gridlock affecting the working dynamics between the ruling and opposition parties moving forward?
Choi Min-hee: This situation exemplifies a concerning pattern where essential issues become mired in partisanship. I hope that, rather than allowing such disagreements to escalate, we can find common ground and work collaboratively for the betterment of our society. Ultimately, rigorous and transparent vetting processes should be a bipartisan interest.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned publicly that the way the ruling party has approached this process feels violent and unconventional. Can you elaborate on that?
Choi Min-hee: Certainly. What I meant is that the traditional processes and standards that govern these hearings should not be disregarded or fast-tracked. This recent approach by the ruling party to limit the inquiry into a single day effectively undermines the seriousness of the vetting process and only serves to invite skepticism about their commitment to transparency.
Time.news Editor: Given the discussions and the opposition’s strong stance on needing more time for verification, what next steps do you expect from your party?
Choi Min-hee: We will continue to advocate for the two-day hearing. It is vital that we not only voice our concerns but also mobilize our allies to pressure for more rigorous review processes. It’s paramount that we work to change the perception of these hearings from mere formalities to substantive evaluations of qualifications.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Chairman Choi, for sharing your insights today. Your perspective sheds light on the challenges facing the National Assembly amidst such important discussions. We look forward to seeing how this situation unfolds in the coming weeks.
Choi Min-hee: Thank you for the opportunity. The dialogue is essential, and I appreciate your coverage of this critical issue.