Presidential Office on Maintaining Hansanghyeok's Dismissal: "Confirmed Neglect of Responsibility"

Administrative Court: "Reapproval Review Significantly Violates Fairness"
Presidential Office: "Neglects Duty to Uphold Neutrality and Fairness"

The Presidential Office on the 23rd issued a statement regarding the court's dismissal of the suspension request filed by former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Han Sang-hyuk, who was dismissed over allegations of manipulation in the TV Chosun license renewal evaluation, saying it "clearly confirms the grave neglect of the critical duty to uphold the neutrality and fairness of broadcasting."

The Presidential Office spokesperson said in the afternoon, "Former Chairman Han neglected his critical duty to uphold the neutrality and fairness of broadcasting and effectively approved the manipulation of TV Chosun's scores by his subordinate staff," adding, "The government will do its utmost to ensure that the KCC promptly protects freedom of the press and the neutrality and fairness of reporting."

The Seoul Administrative Court, Administrative Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kang Dong-hyuk) on the same day rejected former Chairman Han's request for suspension of the dismissal order filed against President Yoon Suk-yeol. The court affirmed the validity of the dismissal order approved by President Yoon. The court explained, "Under the involvement of KCC officials who were under the command and supervision of former Chairman Han, the evaluation scores for TV Chosun's license renewal review were altered," and "Originally, TV Chosun had scored over 650 points with no failing marks in key evaluation areas, but the revised evaluation results showed failing marks, which affected the license renewal decision and validity period, significantly undermining the fairness of the license renewal review."

Furthermore, the court pointed out, "Based on the submitted evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that the score modifications were recognized after the fact," and "Nevertheless, former Chairman Han made no effort to investigate the facts or circumstances. Instead, he instructed the KCC plenary session to proceed with the hearing process for TV Chosun based on the revised evaluation results that included failing marks and to submit a conditional license renewal proposal with a three-year validity period."

Former Chairman Han was indicted without detention on the 2nd of last month on charges of appointing a civic group member who had opposed TV Chosun as an evaluation committee member on March 11, 2020, and knowingly condoning the manipulation of TV Chosun's evaluation scores in April of the same year. Consequently, the government initiated dismissal procedures against former Chairman Han for violating the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission" (KCC Act) and the National Public Service Act. President Yoon also approved the dismissal of former Chairman Han on the 30th of last month.

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