President Lee Jae-myung on Nov. 28 named Yonsei University law school professor Kim Jong-cheol as the first chair of the Broadcast Media Telecom Commission.

Presidential spokesperson Kang You-jung announced the appointment at a briefing the same day.

Kim previously served as a research fellow at the Information and Communications Ethics Committee, vice chair of the Special Advisory Committee on the National Constitution, and president of the Human Rights Law Association, the Media Law Association and the Korean Public Law Association.

Lee also appointed lawyer Ryu Shin-hwan of law firm Jihyang as a presidential member of the commission.

Ryu is a former member of Lawyers for a Democratic Society and served as an executive member of the Press Human Rights Center’s media damage relief division.

The commission consists of seven members. The president names two members, including the chair. The ruling party’s negotiating bloc recommends two, and the opposition bloc recommends three.

Lee also appointed Kim Yi-tak, an adjunct professor in aviation services at Kyungin Women’s University, as first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Kim previously served in the ministry as director general for policy planning in the Office of Planning and Coordination and as head of the Urban Regeneration Project Planning Division.

Former first vice minister Lee Sang-kyung resigned after his inappropriate remarks related to real estate prices became an issue.

[Yonhap]