Hwang Sang-mu, Chief of Civil Society, Apologizes for Mentioning 'Hoesal Terror'... "Will Be Especially Careful with Words and Actions"

"Acting More Responsibly as a Public Official Moving Forward"

Hwang Sang-moo, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, apologized on the 16th for mentioning incidents in which the military allegedly instigated attacks against journalists who wrote critical articles about the government in the 1980s during a meeting with some media outlets including MBC.

On the same day, Hwang issued a personal statement titled "I Apologize" to the media, saying, "I apologize for causing concern to the public with my words and actions."

Hwang said, "I failed to consider the perspective of the listeners," and added, "I apologize to the journalists."

He also expressed, "I sincerely apologize and offer my condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of the incident that I did not want to recall," and stated, "From now on, as a public official, I will be especially careful with my words and actions and act more responsibly."

The following is the full text of the apology.

I apologize for causing concern to the public with my words and actions.

I failed to consider the perspective of the listeners. I apologize to the journalists.

I sincerely apologize and offer my condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of the incident that I did not want to recall.

From now on, as a public official, I will be especially careful with my words and actions and act more responsibly.