Presidential Office on Hansanghyeok's Dismissal: "Under Review by Ministry According to Law"

Chairman Han indicted for involvement in score manipulation during comprehensive programming reapproval review
Responds "reasonable decision" on Yoon's nursing law enactment pledge
On veto use, says "need broad consultation... will deliberate"

The Presidential Office announced on the 4th that the government is conducting a legal review regarding the dismissal of Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who has been indicted on charges of manipulating scores during the comprehensive programming channel re-approval evaluation process.

A key official from the Presidential Office said in the afternoon at the Yongsan Presidential Office, when asked by reporters about the possibility of Han's dismissal, "Since a head of a major government agency has been indicted, the relevant ministries are conducting the necessary legal review on how to respond according to the law." The official did not respond to the possibility of President Yoon approving the dismissal next week.

On the 2nd, the prosecution referred Han to trial without detention on charges including obstruction of official duties by deception, abuse of authority, and falsification of official documents. The prosecution alleges that on March 11, 2020, Han appointed a person from a specific civic group critical of TV Chosun as a member of the evaluation committee, creating an unfavorable environment for TV Chosun's re-approval.

Despite this, when TV Chosun received scores sufficient for re-approval, Han expressed dissatisfaction to KCC directors, which led to subordinates leaking evaluation scores and manipulating them. He is also charged with concealing the fact that the TV Chosun evaluation scores were manipulated and deceiving the KCC commissioners into believing that the re-approval evaluation was conducted normally, thereby securing conditional re-approval.

The government interprets Article 8 of the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission" (KCC Act), which guarantees the status of KCC commissioners and states that they shall not be dismissed except in cases of violation of duties under the KCC Act or other laws, as meaning that Han is subject to dismissal for violating duties prescribed by the State Public Officials Act. Some speculate that President Yoon may approve Han's dismissal next week after government review.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, regarding the controversy over whether President Yoon’s remarks on improving nurses’ treatment at a meeting with the Nurses Association during his presidential campaign constituted a pledge to enact the Nursing Act, the Presidential Office stated, "During the last presidential election, when President Yoon visited the Nurses Association, he responded by saying he would make a reasonable decision," denying that he promised to enact the Nursing Act. On the possibility of President Yoon exercising his veto power regarding the Nursing Act, the office said, "There are many related organizations involved this time, so it seems necessary to listen to a broader range of opinions," adding, "We will listen carefully, deliberate, and decide."

When asked by a reporter about the recent suicide of an official from the Gangwon branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Construction Union, whose suicide note mentioned being accused of obstructing work despite engaging in legitimate union activities, and about the Presidential Office’s stance on anti-union frames such as construction violence and chronic subcontracting issues by employers, the official replied, "We conveyed the Presidential Office’s position in the last briefing," and refrained from further comment, saying, "If there is additional information to convey, we will do so." The official had previously stated on the 2nd, "We offer our condolences to the deceased and their family. We hope such unfortunate incidents do not recur," and added, "There are various social discussions on labor-management and labor issues, and we hope society will take this as an opportunity to establish a rational labor-management culture."

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