Choi Hyung-du: "Visiting MBC for Closed-Door Briefing During Audit Is a Flawed Practice"

▲ People Power Party Representative Choi Hyung-du

People Power Party members of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee did not attend a closed-door business briefing by MBC scheduled for October 16.

They cited concerns that visiting only MBC in person among public broadcasters to receive a work report behind closed doors during the parliamentary audit period could be viewed as a kind of "preferential practice."

Representative Choi Hyung-du, who serves as the People Power Party's ranking member on the committee, said at the party's parliamentary audit strategy meeting on October 16, "Amid a busy audit schedule, the committee repeatedly visiting MBC even though it is not an on-site inspection was truly a bizarre practice."

Choi said, "At other public broadcasters such as KBS and EBS, both the board chairman and the president appear at the National Assembly for the audit," adding, "In the case of MBC, because it is a joint-stock company, only the board chairman appeared at the National Assembly while the president did not show up."

He added, "Lawmakers have been visiting MBC during the audit period, and while all other audit proceedings are open to the public, only the schedule at MBC is closed to the public," stressing, "This is truly an unacceptable practice, and People Power Party members on the committee will put an end to such practices going forward."

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