“President Yoon Seok-yeol Approves Dismissal of Korea Communications Commission Chairman for Serious Crimes”

On the 30th, President Yoon Seok-yeol approved the dismissal of Korea Communications Commission Chairman Han Sang-hyuk. The reason is that it is a situation where it is impossible to perform normal duties due to committing a serious crime. At the point of about a month before the end of his term of office, it is interpreted that the intention to ‘take over public broadcasting’ lies in the hasty dismissal of Chairman Han only because of the prosecution’s prosecution. In the late afternoon of the same day, the President’s Office issued a notice in the name of the spokesperson’s office, saying, “As the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, he violated his command and supervision responsibilities and duties, causing an unprecedented situation in which three people were arrested and prosecuted, and he himself committed a serious crime and was prosecuted. As a result, it has reached a situation where it is impossible to perform normal duties.” Previously, on the 2nd, the prosecution indicted the chairman without detention on charges of intentionally lowering the score during the 2020 re-approval review process during the Moon Jae-in administration. Three people, including the head of the jury, the director of the Korea Communications Commission, and the manager, were arrested. On this day, the presidential office issued an unusually long notice of 10 to 90 women (including blanks), explaining in detail why President Yoon approved the dismissal of Chairman Han. The President’s office alleged that Chairman Han had △failure to fulfill her duties as a person in charge of command and supervision △violation of fairness △obstruction of official duties by hierarchical means △abuse of authority without consulting with other standing members of the Korea Communications Commission. He also mentioned the prosecution’s indictment that he abused his authority by arbitrarily shortening the validity period for re-approval from 4 years to 3 years, and had him write and distribute false press releases. An official from the presidential office said, “A legal judgment on the charges against Chairman Han may come later, but being accused itself is not appropriate for performing public duties.” Chairman Han has been pressured to resign from all directions through an intense inspection of the Korea Communications Commission by the Board of Audit and Inspection in June of last year and a subsequent investigation by the prosecution. On the 2nd, after the prosecution indicted the chairman without detention on charges of obstruction of execution of official duties, abuse of authority, obstruction of exercise of rights, and creation of false public documents, the Personnel Innovation Office began the hearing process. It is said that President Yoon made the decision on the day after comprehensively reviewing the hearing records and opinions sent by the Personnel Innovation Office. Dissatisfied with the disposition, Chairman Han is planning to issue a provisional disposition for suspension of execution and file an administrative lawsuit, so legal battles between the two sides are expected to continue. The Korea Communications Commission will operate as a temporary system for the time being. The KCC consists of two members for the president (chairman and one standing member), one for the ruling party, and two for the opposition party. In addition, the Office of the President and the power of the people adhere to the policy of not appointing former lawmaker Choi Min-hee, who was recommended by the Democratic Party. Lee Dong-gwan, special adviser for foreign cooperation to the President, is being mentioned as the next chairman of the Korea Communications Commission. Lee Myung-bak, a former journalist, served as the Blue House spokesperson and chief public relations officer of the Lee Myung-bak administration. It is known that he is trusted by President Yoon while giving advice on dealing with the media. However, weight is placed on the possibility that President Yoon will not appoint the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission until the end of July, the remaining term of chairman Han. Reporter Mina Kim [email protected]