The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee (STIBCC) conducted a report on the operations of relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, following a heated exchange between ruling and opposition lawmakers regarding Lee Jin-sook of the People Power Party.
While inquiries into pressing issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), platforms, and information security were expected, the meeting was marred by ongoing disputes over Lee's conflict of interest, leading to multiple suspensions and criticisms that scientific issues were overshadowed by political strife.
On September 8, the STIBCC held a full committee meeting at the National Assembly to review reports from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Broadcasting and Media Communications Committee, the Nuclear Safety Commission, and the Korea Aerospace Administration.
However, from the morning, disputes over Lee's conflict of interest hindered the smooth progress of the meeting. Lawmakers exchanged harsh terms such as 'skunk' and 'loach.' Ultimately, the committee passed a resolution urging Lee to refrain from speaking or voting on matters related to herself, led by the ruling party. In response, members of the People Power Party walked out just before the vote.
Following the political skirmish, the afternoon session resumed with government officials acknowledging a lack of legal frameworks to address the expansion of platforms and AI.
Kim Jong-cheol, chair of the Broadcasting and Media Communications Committee, stated, "The legal basis for effectively supervising the self-regulatory frameworks of large platform operators is weak," adding that there are insufficient means to enforce transparency reports or investigative submissions from platforms. He emphasized the need for legislative improvements.
Concerns were also raised about job losses due to AI, as well as issues of over-dependence and social polarization. Ryu Je-myung, the second vice minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, noted, "The causal relationship between AI and job loss has not been clearly established," and suggested that the potential for new job creation through AI should also be considered. Kim echoed the need for institutional measures to ensure public trust and safety in the AI industry, calling for legislative support from the National Assembly.
The effectiveness of sanctions for data breach incidents was also scrutinized. Ryu confirmed that Tving, a streaming service, failed to report a data breach within the legal timeframe of 24 hours and stated that a fine would be imposed. He added that the Personal Information Protection Commission would conduct a separate investigation and impose sanctions regarding the Tving incident.
Concerns were raised about the lower level of accountability for data breaches at national research institutions like the Korea Aerospace Research Institute compared to private companies. Gu Hyuk-chae, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized that while investigations are ongoing, additional measures will be implemented.
Meanwhile, the repeated disruptions during the meeting led to calls for a separation of the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors from the science and technology fields. This suggestion arose from the belief that political conflicts surrounding broadcasting are obstructing discussions on scientific and AI issues.
Yu Sang-im, an emeritus professor at Seoul National University and former minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, expressed regret that during his tenure, discussions on science and technology and information communication issues were often overshadowed by conflicts over broadcasting matters. He advocated for the separation of these sectors to ensure that nationally significant topics, including AI, receive adequate attention.
He further stated, "The upcoming National Assembly audit is a crucial process for the public to scrutinize how taxpayer money is being used. If this time is wasted on unproductive conflicts, the audit will inevitably suffer, and the public will ultimately bear the consequences."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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