Visiting US Unification Committee urges quick resumption of 'YTN hearing'... Request confirmation of duties from the presiding officer

The Korea Media and Communications Commission urged the hearing presiding officers to quickly resume the hearing to decide whether to cancel the approval of YTN's largest shareholder, Eugene ENT.

On the 13th, the U.S.-Visit Unification Committee held its 49th meeting at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi-do, discussed ways to handle the Eugene E&T hearing, and made this decision.

Previously, the three people presiding over the hearing decided to hold the hearing on the 3rd and then resume it on the 22nd of next month. This is after the 18th of next month, when the Seoul High Court's ruling on the appeal regarding the cancellation of YTN's approval for change to the largest investor is scheduled to be made.

At the meeting on this day, there continued to be differences of opinion among the committee members regarding whether the hearing presiding officers' decision on the continuation schedule was appropriate. Vice Chairman Ko Min-soo proposed three measures, including urging a quick resumption of hearings, replacing the presiding officer, and invalidating existing hearing procedures.

Commissioner Yoon Seong-ok pointed out that suspending the hearing was outside the scope of the presiding officer's authority. He said, “I believe that the hearing presiding officer interrupted the hearing process, thereby infringing on the committee’s authority to decide on administrative dispositions.”

On the other hand, Commissioner Choi Soo-young opposed it, saying that the independence of the hearing presiding officer must be respected. Commissioner Choi argued, “After the hearing is conducted according to the December 22nd schedule set by the hearing presiding officers, we can discuss follow-up procedures based on the results.” Commissioner Lee Sang-geun also expressed his opposition, saying that changing the presiding officer could undermine the legitimacy of the procedure.

During the discussion, the method of presenting the agenda also became an issue. Commissioner Choi raised the issue of changing the issue that had been agreed upon as a report agenda at the original meeting to a resolution agenda, but agreed to continue the discussion as a resolution agenda through a meeting after the adjournment.

After discussion, the U.S. Visit Committee decided to amend the first plan proposed by Commissioner Yoon. This is to confirm whether the suspension of the hearing was a decision based on the scope of the hearing presiding officer's duties, such as evidence and fact investigation, and to request cooperation in expediting the hearing for the legal stability of the parties.

Previously, the United States Unification Committee decided to hold a hearing in September to determine whether there were any problems in the approval process for Eugene E&T's change to YTN's largest investor. This is a procedure to determine whether to cancel approval, and cancellation has not been decided.