On the 28th, President Lee Jae-Myung designated Kim Jong-Cheol (59), a professor at Yonsei University Law School, as the inaugural chair of the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-Jung held a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office that day and made the announcement.

Kim I-Tak, an adjunct professor in the Department of Airline Service at Kyungin Women's University, was appointed first vice minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Attorney Ryu Shin-Hwan was appointed as a member of the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission to be named by the president.

Spokesperson Kang described Professor Kim Jong-Cheol, nominated for the minister-level chair, as “a constitutional scholar and media law expert with a deep understanding of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution and its limits, having served as president of the Korean Association for Communication Law and the Korean Association of Public Law,” and said, “He is considered the right person to prioritize popular sovereignty, strengthen the public function and social responsibility of broadcasting and media, adapt to the new digital media industry environment, dismantle regulations, and streamline the legal framework.”

Attorney Ryu previously belonged to Lawyers for a Democratic Society and served as an executive member at the Media Human Rights Center’s Media Harm Relief Headquarters.

The Commission consists of seven members. The president designates two, including the chair; the ruling party caucus recommends two, and the opposition caucus recommends three.

Kang said, “In step with the rapidly changing media environment, we expect this to restore the public nature of broadcasting and media and raise the media sovereignty of citizens.”

The new vice minister Kim previously served at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as director for policy planning in the Office of Planning and Coordination and as head of the Urban Regeneration Project Planning Team, among other posts. His predecessor, former first vice minister Lee Sang-Kyung, resigned last month after controversy over inappropriate remarks and behavior related to real estate prices.