'Resignation Pressure' Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, "I Will Faithfully Carry Out My Duties"

Hansanghyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, on the 20th dismissed the ruling party's pressure for voluntary resignation, saying, "I will perform my duties as faithfully as possible."

After the Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards ceremony held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, Chairman Han responded to the opinion that "the controversy over the chairman's position is an infringement on broadcasting independence" by saying, "I think I have mentioned that several times." Chairman Han's term lasts until July next year. Members of the ruling People Power Party have raised suspicions of Chairman Han violating the Farmland Act and are pressuring him to resign. The opposition Democratic Party criticized this as "political retaliation."

Regarding the controversy over exclusion from the Cabinet meeting, he said, "If there is a necessary agenda, I should attend," and added, "We can think about the method." Since the Korea Communications Commission was established in 2008, the chairman has attended Cabinet meetings. Recently, Chairman Han, along with Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, was excluded from the attendance list of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's Cabinet meetings. On the 17th, President Yoon said, "If non-essential personnel sit in Cabinet meetings, Cabinet members may not be able to speak their minds openly," and added, "Is it necessary to have people who don't need to be there attend?"