[Full Text] Announcer Lee Hye-seong on Controversy Over Unfair Annual Leave Allowance Receipt: "Received Reprimand Disciplinary Action... I Reflect"

KBS announcer Lee Hye-seong. Photo by Lee Hye-seong

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeonju] KBS announcer Lee Hye-seong apologized on the 11th for the controversy surrounding her disciplinary action due to improper receipt of annual leave allowance, saying, "I sincerely apologize for being at the center of this controversy as an announcer of a public broadcaster."

Lee Hye-seong said in a post on her Instagram that day, "I also apologize for not being able to speak earlier as the disciplinary committee was recently concluded."

She explained, "After manually filling out the leave application form, it should have been submitted through the ESS system, but I only completed the manual form and missed submitting it through the system. The omitted amount corresponds to about 700,000 won worth of substitute leave days, and I completed the post-submission process during the self-reporting period with the remaining substitute leave."

She added, "Afterwards, I received a one-month internal disciplinary action from the announcer’s office, and the company ultimately gave me a reprimand."

She also said, "It is not true that I improperly received ten million won as reported in the articles, or that I took leave but processed it as '0' days," and added, "I acknowledge my fault and negligence regarding the annual leave allowance controversy and sincerely apologize for causing concern."

Finally, she stated, "I promise to prevent such issues from recurring in the future," and "I will become a more mature and developed journalist."

Below is the full text of KBS announcer Lee Hye-seong’s Instagram post

Hello. I am Lee Hye-seong, a KBS announcer. I sincerely apologize for being at the center of this controversy as an announcer of a public broadcaster. I also apologize for not being able to speak earlier as the disciplinary committee was recently concluded.

First, to clarify the facts, it is not true that I improperly received ten million won as reported in the articles, or that I took leave but processed it as '0' days.

There are two ways to record leave in the announcer’s office. After manually filling out the leave application form, it should be submitted through the ESS system, but in my case, I only completed the manual form and missed submitting it through the system. This was clearly my negligence and mistake.

The amount I omitted corresponds to about 700,000 won worth of substitute leave days, and I completed the post-submission process during the self-reporting period with the remaining substitute leave. Since substitute leave is not paid if the usage period remains, it is not true that I improperly received and then returned the annual leave allowance.

The reason a relatively junior announcer like me has many substitute leave days is because of substitute leave accumulated from working on holidays and weekends, such as Golden Bell and weekend sports news.

Afterwards, I received a one-month internal disciplinary action from the announcer’s office, and the company ultimately gave me a reprimand.

I acknowledge my fault and negligence regarding the annual leave allowance controversy and sincerely apologize for causing concern. I promise to prevent such issues from recurring in the future. Since this issue has been criticized over time, I personally feel deeply about it and sincerely reflect on it. I will become a more mature and developed journalist. I am sorry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.