[Asia Exclusive] Han Cheongcheon Leading the KCC with Expertise and Tenacity

Chairman Han Sang-hyuk of the Korea Communications Commission

Sang-hyuk Han, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The position of Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), a presidential advisory deliberative administrative body overseeing broadcasting and telecommunications policies, is a role frequently subjected to external pressures. This is because conflicts of interest are intense and political influence is strong, leading to sharply divided opinions or backlash on many issues.

Han Sang-hyuk, who has held this position for eight months, receives favorable evaluations both inside and outside the organization. He is praised for his 'depth of experience' and 'steadfastness' in accurately grasping major issues, maintaining the KCC's central role without wavering amid external pressures or trends during its 4th term. Although initially perceived as having a strong reformist streak and partisan background, he has broadened his support base throughout his term through uncontroversial conduct and professional expertise in his work.

There have also been achievements. Emphasizing practical and realistic approaches, he has shown great interest in policies affecting the daily lives of citizens, which notably led to improvements in the disaster broadcasting system related to the Gangwon wildfires and the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This was the result of multiple reviews of the disaster broadcasting system, which had been embroiled in controversies over being 'hasty' and 'inadequate' early last year. Regarding the 'infodemic'?the epidemic of false information?that raised concerns during COVID-19, the chairman himself increased his media appearances to promote fact-checking and played a role in ensuring that YouTube and major portals placed credible information at the top. The policy to eradicate 'false and manipulated information (fake news),' which he emphasized as his inaugural message, is planned to be launched in the second half of this year with support for building an open platform led by the private sector.

Chairman Sang-Hyuk Han of the Korea Communications Commission. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Chairman Han’s work style is close to free discussion. Even for simple decisions, he frequently holds discussions with staff. The weekly Monday executive meetings are not just for reports from department heads but are forums for debate. Recently, lively discussions were held on topics such as 'The Role of the KCC in the Post-COVID Era' and 'Media Literacy.' In these meetings, all employees, including the chairman, avoid using negative words like "no" or "difficult." This rule was set by the chairman to ensure smooth and uninhibited discussions.

He is a commanding leader whom employees trust because he is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the work. The chairman himself possesses extensive knowledge and coherent, complete logic about the work, enabling quick understanding and judgment from just a few pages of reports. An official from the KCC said, "Previously, the entire organization would break a sweat preparing the chairman’s issue reports two to three days before national audits or plenary meetings, but under Chairman Han’s leadership, such practices have almost disappeared," adding, "The chairman handles most issues himself and dislikes formality, so there is no inefficiency in 'protocol' or 'reporting systems.'"

He is known for his quick adaptability, excellent external rapport, and approachable personality, earning strong trust from employees. He often has lunch with staff and recently gave gifts such as flowers and walnut cookies. Despite his bold and stern appearance, which has earned him nicknames like 'Boss' and 'Judge Po Chung-cheon,' he also has friendly nicknames like 'Panda Bear' and 'Tough Guy.' He has a good memory and reportedly recognizes and greets employees he has met before.

◇ Chairman Han Sang-hyuk ▲ Born 1961 in Cheongyang, Chungnam ▲ Daejeon High School ▲ Korea University, Department of Law ▲ Master’s in Journalism from Chung-Ang University Graduate School of Journalism and Broadcasting ▲ Passed the 40th Judicial Examination ▲ Representative Lawyer at Law Firm Jeongse ▲ Director of the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency ▲ Co-Representative of the Citizens’ Coalition for Democratic Media ▲ Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission

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