Parliament fails to adopt confirmation hearing report for broadcasting watchdog chief nominee

The National Assembly failed Monday to adopt a confirmation hearing report for the broadcasting watchdog chief nominee due to objections from the main opposition Democratic Party. Lee Jin-sook, the nominee to become chief of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), underwent a rare three-day confirmation hearing last week amid accusations she used her former positions at public broadcaster MBC to suppress the company's labor union and misuse corporate cards. Monday was the legal deadline by which the Assembly had to send a confirmation hearing report to the government. President Yoon Suk Yeol can now request the parliament send the report within a 10-day window. Lee was nominated by Yoon earlier this month after former KCC Chairman Kim Hong-il voluntarily stepped down amid opposition parties' push to impeach him. During her time in the press, Lee was recognized for her expertise on the Middle East and her title as the country's "first female war correspondent" for reporting on the 1990-91 Gulf War and the Iraq War. Her formal appointment does not require the endorsement of the National Assembly. In South Korea, the prime minister is the only Cabinet post that requires parliamentary approval. Source: Yonhap News Agency