Ex-senior prosecutor tapped as new broadcasting watchdog chief

Kim Hong-il, nominee for chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, speaks during a media briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated Kim Hong-il, who currently heads the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, as the chief of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Wednesday.

The nominee was Yoon's boss when they were both prosecutors.

The nomination came five days after Lee Dong-kwan quit as the chief of the broadcasting watchdog just three months after he took the office, dogged by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) attempt to impeach him. The DPK accused Lee of unfair personnel decisions and appointments aimed at increasing the government's influence over broadcasters.

The nominee for the next broadcasting watchdog chief is subject to National Assembly confirmation hearings before being appointed to the position.

Presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki said during a press briefing that Kim Hong-il was tapped due to his track record of upholding impartiality.

“Kim Hong-il is a seasoned figure both in legal circles and public offices as he has served as a lawyer and head of the anti-corruption agency after he left the prosecution in 2013,” the chief of staff said.

“Fairness is necessary for the KCC more than ever as the commission currently has a pile of pending issues on which the interests of various circles are sharply conflicting. Nominee Kim Hong-il is believed to be the right person to protect the KCC’s independence and fairness as he was an impartial and empathetic legal official with a firm conviction about the law and principles and a balanced view.”

In response, Kim, who was present at the briefing, said, “If I am appointed to the position, I will do my best to enable independent and fair broadcasting that is trusted by the public.”

The president is known to have a deep sense of respect for the nominee, because the two worked together at the prosecution.

Yoon appears to be appointing a trusted official to the key position to settle confusion and controversy surrounding the KCC caused by the abrupt resignation of its former chief ahead of general elections slated for April.

The nomination, however, is expected to provoke a backlash from the opposition party, which claims that Kim’s background as a senior prosecutor has absolutely no relation to the duties concerning broadcasting and communications.

The opposition party is also criticizing the nominee’s track record of investigations when he was a prosecutor, such as the BBK stock price manipulation scandal allegedly involving Lee Myung-bak when he was the presidential candidate of the Grand National Party, the predecessor of the ruling People Power Party.

On Dec. 5 of 2007, just 14 days before the presidential election, Kim decided to free Lee Myung-bak without charges and dropped the case. Lee was elected president in that election. But suspicion and controversy over the case have lingered for years.

The opposition party is expected to raise these issues during the upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearings as the rival parties have been butting heads over the broadcasting watchdog in order to gain an advantage before the general elections, given the huge influence that broadcasters have over voters.

This compilation image shows Oh Seok-hwan, left, nominee for vice education minister, and Lee Hee-wan, nominee for vice veterans affairs minister. Courtesy of presidential office

Meanwhile, the president also named Lee Hee-wan, a Navy captain, as vice veterans affairs minister, and Oh Seok-hwan, presidential secretary for education, as vice education minister, according to the presidential chief of staff.

The vice veterans affairs minister nominee is hailed as a hero of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, an inter-Korean naval skirmish that took place in 2002 near the western maritime demarcation line, for defending the sea border even after he was shot in both legs.

“Through Lee’s nomination, the government expressed its firm willingness to create a country where heroes are treated well,” the chief of staff said.

The latest nominations are part of a wider Cabinet reshuffle in preparation for the expected departures of ministers who plan to run in the general elections. Yoon is also seeking to revamp his administration in his upcoming third year in office.

On Monday, Yoon replaced six Cabinet members, including the finance and land ministers.