Assembly passes media bills amid opposition boycott

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a set of
disputed bills centered on allowing newspapers and conglomerates to own stakes in
broadcasting stations, amid a boycott by opposition lawmakers who accuse the
government of attempting to rein in domestic media organizations.

The controversial revisions to the media laws were passed in a vote only attended
by lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), as opposition lawmakers
refused to participate in protest against the move.
GNP lawmaker Lee Yoon-sung, vice speaker of the Assembly, presided over the
balloting on behalf of Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o, who decided to invoke his
power to put the disputed bills to a vote after over eight months of bipartisan
wrangling.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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