Chief of broadcasting watchdog reinstated after court rejects impeachment

Lee Jin-sook the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission attends the Constitutional Court of Koreas grand bench hearing in Jongno-gu Seoul for the ruling on the impeachment case against her on Thursday Yonhap — Lee Jin-sook, the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, attends a hearing at the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Jan. 23, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Lee Jin-sook, chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), has been reinstated to her position following a court ruling overturning her impeachment over a controversial decision-making process at the broadcasting watchdog.

The Constitutional Court of Korea on Thursday dismissed an impeachment motion against her, effectively ending a five-month-long saga that began in August last year when the National Assembly voted to impeach her.

Lee was accused of making decisions with only a few members, leaving the five-member committee partially vacant, which led to the suspension of her duties, shortly after her appointment as chief of the watchdog.

But the court ruled that was not against the law, allowing her to immediately return to work.

Evelyn Yeonseo Nam evelyneyahh@ajunews.com