A dispute over the legality of hearing procedures emerged during a parliamentary audit over whether to maintain an approval for a change in YTN's largest shareholder. The opposition argued a separate resolution was needed after additional items were included beyond the hearing issues initially discussed. The Korea Communications Commission said the items were included after securing commissioners' consent.

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom (김장겸) said at an audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on Oct. 12 that the KCC added two items to a hearing notice it sent to the Yujin side on the YTN change-of-largest-shareholder approval, beyond the six items originally discussed.

Kim said, "If you passed a resolution on six items, shouldn't you go through the resolution process again when adding two?" He said the resolution procedures of a collegial administrative body must be followed.

Jang Dae-ho (장대호), director general of broadcasting policy at the KCC, said the notice related to the hearing was issued by reflecting what was discussed at a meeting among commissioners.

Koh Min-soo (고민수), vice chair of the KCC, said, "We passed a resolution on holding the hearing and the main matters, and we made a decision so that additional matters can be reflected if there are requests from commissioners."

Koh said he understood that commissioners recommended by both the ruling and opposition parties checked the added items and agreed to them. He stressed it did not reflect only the opinion of a specific commissioner.

Kim again raised the issue of whether an official resolution could be replaced by consultations among commissioners. The KCC maintained that it had passed a resolution to conduct the hearing itself, and that it did not pass separate resolutions on every detailed item to be addressed at the hearing.

From the ruling party, there were calls to fully guarantee the Yujin side an opportunity to explain.

Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jun-ho (한준호) stressed that the hearing scheduled for Oct. 21 should confirm differences between the plan the Yujin side presented at the time of the YTN acquisition review and the actual measures taken after the acquisition.

Han said it was necessary to quickly decide whether to maintain the change approval after fully hearing the Yujin side's explanation.

Koh said, "We plan to conduct fact-finding and evidence examination through an independent and objective hearing chair, and receive written opinions." He added, "Afterwards, we will closely review the relevant matters during the commission's deliberation process."

The KCC plans to review whether to maintain the approval for the change in YTN's largest shareholder after going through the hearing procedure.