Minister Yuinchon: "Vice President Lee Jaehwan of the Korea Tourism Organization Undergoing Audit... Must Take Responsibility for Mistakes"

Comprehensive Audit of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Affiliated Agencies
Controversy Over Vice President Lee's Remarks...Absent Due to Health Reasons
Minister Yoo: "Must Take Responsibility for Wrongdoings"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced that they are conducting an audit on Vice President Lee Jaehwan, who has been embroiled in controversy over parachute remarks and allegations of workplace harassment.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is responding to a lawmaker's question at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit held at the National Assembly on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated organizations by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Minister Yoo In-chon responded to a question from Assemblyman Lim Jong-sung of the Democratic Party regarding Vice President Lee by saying, "The audit has been ongoing since the 24th," and added, "Those responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable."

Kim Jang-sil, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, also stated, "On the 24th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requested the Korea Tourism Organization to conduct an internal audit on the Vice President," and added, "We will promptly request the audit team to carry out the investigation."

Earlier, during the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit of the Ministry's affiliated organizations held on the 19th, Vice President Lee was criticized after a video was released showing him referring to himself as a 'parachute' appointee and calling Busan a 'rural town,' while mentioning his connections with Lee Jin-bok, Chief Secretary for Political Affairs, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and Minister Won Hee-ryong.

Additionally, allegations surfaced that he ordered an audit of an employee for attempting to renegotiate a business agreement with a specific company without his approval and instructed staff to produce a personal promotional video, placing him at the center of controversy.

On the same day, Assemblyman Lim pointed out that Vice President Lee had taken overseas business trips more than once a month, stating, "In effect, the Korea Tourism Organization has become Vice President Lee's personal travel agency."

Minister Yoo responded, "I do not know this person well," and added, "I am not sure how he came to hold this position, but we definitely need to investigate this thoroughly."

Kim Jang-sil, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, is responding at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In response to Assemblyman Lim's inquiry that "there are reports that Vice President Lee makes calls on speakerphone in front of employees to executives in the management headquarters, instructing them to send certain people to specific teams," President Kim replied, "I do not know the intention, but the remarks appear inappropriate."

Assemblyman Lim said, "During the last audit, I requested an investigation into workplace harassment, violations of the code of conduct related to the production of personal promotional videos by executives and employees, and suspicions of violating the Anti-Graft Act," and added, "I understand that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has requested the organization to conduct its own investigation, but since the organization has no disciplinary regulations for executives, I urge the Ministry to take necessary actions such as reporting to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission based on the audit results."

He continued, "During the last audit, Vice President Lee falsely accused me of exerting undue pressure on a specific project of the organization and claimed he was subjected to retaliatory audits for not complying, but in the written response submitted to my office, he denied these allegations as 'groundless.' I do not know the extent of Vice President Lee's backing, but how can he mock the audit like this to avoid a difficult situation?"

Assemblyman Lim emphasized, "Separate from filing charges against Vice President Lee for perjury and insulting the National Assembly, I demand the immediate dismissal of Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism."

Vice President Lee submitted a letter of absence citing health reasons and did not attend the comprehensive audit that day.

On the same day, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties pointed out issues not only at the Korea Tourism Organization but also at affiliated organizations such as the Korean Film Council, Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), and the Game Rating and Administration Committee, urging the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as the supervisory agency, to conduct a rigorous audit.

The Korean Film Council became controversial after it was revealed that three out of ten executives violated the Public Officials Conflict of Interest Prevention Act. Grand Korea Leisure faced criticism when, around May 2019, the Osaka office manager embezzled 25 million yen (approximately 230 million KRW) entrusted by customers but left the company without disciplinary action and even received severance pay.

The Game Rating and Administration Committee was again implicated in misconduct during a network construction project conducted in 2021. According to Assemblyman Lee Sang-heon of the Democratic Party, the committee invested 4 to 5 billion KRW in 2016 to build an 'Integrated Post-Management System for Self-Rated Games.' Although the network was delivered by an outsourced company in 2019, parts of the system did not function properly. Despite this, the committee failed to demand compensation from the contractor, leading to an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Minister Yoo In-chon stated, "Institutions currently conducting internal audits will take follow-up measures based on the results, and if insufficient, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will conduct a thorough audit at the ministry level."

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