Large law firm "YTN parliamentary audit, concerns over infringement of broadcasting independence"

In addition, a large law firm's legal interpretation showed that the audit of YTN, which was announced by the Democratic Party of Korea on the 15th, is illegal and is likely to infringe on the independence of broadcasting.

According to the Segye Ilbo, a large law firm in South Korea claimed that the YTN parliamentary audit was exercised for the purpose of being involved in the ongoing trial, violating the principle of separation of powers and the parliamentary audit law under the constitution.

Currently, a lawsuit is being filed by the YTN union to cancel the largest investor change approval, and having Eugene ENT, the YTN parent company and the defendant's assistant participant, appear at the audit is a prohibited act under the National Audit Act for the purpose of "engaging in the trial."

Another large law firm also found that if YTN and its affiliates were present at the hearing, the constitution did not meet the purpose of the Broadcasting Act's legislation to protect freedom of speech and publication, guarantee freedom of broadcasting, and enhance public responsibility for broadcasting.

In response, the People's Power Media Special Committee urged the Democratic Party to stop the YTN parliamentary inspection, which the legal profession is also concerned about, and criticized the Democratic Party for harming the independence and fairness of broadcasting by using the adoption of witnesses as a weapon.

Kim Baek, who was appointed after the privatization, and those who had nothing to do with the privatization of YTN, such as the in-laws of major shareholders, were called as witnesses by the National Assembly, pointing out that he intended to intimidate the owner's family and exert pressure on the media.

In particular, Rep. Noh Jong-myeon of the Democratic Party, who strongly demanded the adoption of witnesses for YTN President Kim Baek, said it is also a problem to serve as a member of the parliamentary inspection committee.

The special committee believes that the fairness of the audit cannot be expected, as it has been less than two years since Roh resigned from YTN and reportedly handed over Eugene ENT assets to the union, including an application for change approval received from the Korea Communications Commission during the sale of YTN.