South Korea's Democratic Party has decided to recommend Ko Min-soo (고민수), a law professor at Gangneung-Wonju National University, as a candidate for standing commissioner on the inaugural Broadcast Media Communications Commission.

According to political circles on Jan. 23, the party's National Assembly Recommendation Committee for Public Office Candidates selected Ko as the final candidate after an interview process held the previous day. The recommendation is expected to be put to a vote at a plenary session of the National Assembly as early as next week. The party has not yet finalised its recommendation for a non-standing commissioner.

Ko is an expert with field and administrative experience, having previously worked in an administrative department of the former Broadcasting Commission and as a reporter at JTV Jeonju Broadcasting. After earning a doctorate in constitutional law at Yonsei University, he has continued academic research on broadcasting policy and regulation.

In particular, Ko has expressed support for the Act on the Establishment of the Broadcast Media Communications Commission, which provided the basis for launching the body, citing the integration of regulation and promotion and the strengthening of the commission's expertise. At a past public hearing, he cited the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and stressed that "to secure expertise in the complex broadcasting and communications sector, a collegial body must carry out both regulatory and promotional functions."

With the ruling party's announcement of its recommended appointee, the commission will initially secure a total of 3 members, including Chair Kim Jong-cheol and non-standing commissioner Ryu Shin-hwan. The selection process for 1 ruling-party non-standing commissioner and, from the main opposition People Power Party, 1 standing commissioner and 2 non-standing commissioners remains, so it is expected to take more time before the seven-member body is fully launched.