“Ordinary Citizen”...Prime Minister’s Office Staffer Who Asked Question at Han Dong-hoon Press Conference Removed from Duty

[Financial News] A staff member of the Prime Minister’s Office sparked controversy over alleged surveillance after asking a question at independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon’s press conference without disclosing his affiliation and identifying himself as an “ordinary citizen.” The Prime Minister’s Office decided on the 14th to remove the staff member from duty.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the staff member was excluded from his assigned duties starting that day. The decision came three days after Prime Minister Han Seong-sook expressed regret to Han Dong-hoon and the public, calling the staff member’s conduct “inappropriate” on the 11th.
On the 10th, the staff member was visiting the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea for work related to interpellations to the government when he came across Han Dong-hoon’s press conference in the National Assembly’s Rotunda Hall. While listening to the question-and-answer session, he asked, “I saw that you posted on Facebook that the prime minister had directed the investigation. What was your intention?” When Han Dong-hoon subsequently asked about his affiliation, the staff member replied, “I’m an ordinary citizen,” triggering controversy.
During an interpellation session at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said, “I believe it was inappropriate conduct for a public official to ask a question at an opposition lawmaker’s press conference without accurately disclosing his identity.” She added, “I also express my regret to lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and the public for causing unnecessary misunderstanding and controversy, particularly by answering that he was an ordinary citizen.”
However, she rejected allegations of surveillance by the Prime Minister’s Office, stating, “It was not surveillance.” At the time, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook explained, “I feel deeply sorry to the public,” adding that the Prime Minister’s Office was explaining the circumstances to the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly and that Kim Young-soo, the first deputy head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, was visiting Han Dong-hoon’s office to apologize.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter