[Summary] Seoul City Official Found Dead, Appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz'... Petition to Cheong for Truth Investigation

Last October Variety Show Appearance
Making Headlines as the Youngest Level 7 Civil Servant Passer

Seoul Museum of Art / Photo by Seoul Museum of Art Official Website

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A Grade 7 public official affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government was found dead at home, prompting the police to launch an investigation. It has been confirmed that the official appeared on the tvN variety show 'You Quiz on the Block' aired in October last year.

According to multiple media reports on the 9th, the Seoul Museum of Art stated, "The deceased official, Mr. A, did appear on a variety show last year."

The museum explained that since the police are currently investigating the case, the exact cause of Mr. A's death has not been determined.

However, regarding some suspicions raised that "Mr. A might have been subjected to workplace harassment," the museum denied such claims, stating "That did not happen." It is reported that the museum is currently preparing an official statement.

Hwang Insik, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, released a statement on the same day, saying, "We earnestly ask for cooperation to prevent reports containing elements unrelated to the essence of the case, such as the deceased's career, or baseless speculation."

Seosomun Main Building of Seoul Museum of Art / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, compiling reports from various media, Mr. A, who worked at the Seoul Museum of Art, was found dead at his home on the previous day (the 8th). No suicide note was found at the scene. The police plan to investigate the exact circumstances of the death through interviews with Mr. A's acquaintances and colleagues.

Mr. A appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' in October last year as the "youngest Grade 7 public official to pass the exam." It was reported that he passed the Grade 7 public official exam at the age of 20, which attracted public attention at the time.

On the show, Mr. A introduced himself by saying, "I am working in the Collection Research Department at the Seoul Museum of Art," and added, "At first, I had difficulty adjusting, and school life and work life were very different from what I had expected."

He also expressed difficulties about his department, saying, "There were no peers my age, and I was the only woman in the department where I was first assigned, so it was hard to adapt."

When the hosts asked about the pros and cons of being a public official, he replied, "The advantage is that I won't get fired, but the other side also won't get fired for life."

Comments urging for fact-finding posted by netizens on the Seoul Museum of Art's social media. / Photo by Instagram capture

Amid these circumstances, voices calling for a thorough investigation into the incident have emerged.

On the 9th, comments such as "The truth must be uncovered" and "Please make sure this never happens again" were posted on the Seoul Museum of Art's official website, social media, and Instagram.

A petition demanding a thorough investigation into the incident was also posted on the Blue House's public petition board.

The petitioner, who identified herself as a woman in her 30s working in an office, stated, "The information revealed online does not allow us to grasp the full context," and urged, "As a citizen of this country and a female employee within an organization, I petition for the investigation and clarification of the circumstances involving the staff in the office that led to this tragic death."

She continued, "There is widespread hatred in our society toward 'gapjil'?abuse of power by those in higher social status and positions to mistreat subordinates," and demanded, "Please identify the staff who assigned the work and those who drained people emotionally through comparisons, evaluations, and malicious gossip."

※ If you or someone around you is experiencing difficult feelings such as depression or other challenges that are hard to talk about, professional counseling is available 24/7 through suicide prevention hotlines ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Phone ☎1388.