Regarding Hwang Sang-mu's mention of 'Hoekal Terror'... Ruling Party's Kim Kyung-yul says, "Resign Immediately"

Pressure to Decide on Yeo's Position... "Not the Attitude of a Public Official"
Press Union: "Trying to Suppress Critical Reporting"

Criticism is emerging from the ruling party, including Han Dong-hoon, the emergency response committee chairman, against Hwang Sang-mu, the Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, who sparked controversy with his remark about the 'journalist knife attack' incident. On the 18th, Kim Kyung-yul, Deputy Head of the People Power Party's Election Countermeasures Committee, pressured Hwang by saying, "He should resign immediately, even today."

On the same day, Deputy Head Kim said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "It was a kind of intimidation act, mentioning a great blot and dark history in the history of our country's democracy," adding, "I was truly shocked when I heard the remark." He continued, "Before the Presidential Office makes a decision, he needs to clearly state his position himself," and evaluated, "As a former journalist and someone currently playing a significant role in state affairs, it was an unacceptable remark and not the attitude of a public official."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 14th, Hwang caused controversy by referring to an incident where soldiers attacked journalists who wrote articles critical of the military and government during a dinner with journalists, saying, "MBC, listen carefully." Hwang explained that it was a 'joke' and that he was merely recounting that such an incident happened in the past, but some criticized him for intimidating journalists. Han Dong-hoon, the emergency response committee chairman of the People Power Party, also pointed out that it was "inappropriate content."

In response, Hwang issued an apology on the 16th, saying, "I apologize for causing concern to the people with my words and actions," and "I sincerely apologize and offer condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of the incident that I did not want to recall." He also stated, "From now on, I will be especially careful with my words and actions as a public official and act more responsibly."

The Korean Federation of Media Workers' Unions also criticized Hwang's remarks as a violation of Article 4 of the Broadcasting Act, saying, "It is an attempt to suppress media outlets that report critically through intimidation." Yoon Chang-hyun, chairman of the National Union of Media Workers, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' "There is a possibility of legal violation because it shows an intention to suppress critical reporting by threatening, 'If you continue critical reporting, you might face such incidents,'" and pointed out, "Above all, it is a crime that seriously damages the honor of the late journalist Oh Hong-geun, who suffered from terrible trauma due to past terror and passed away, and his bereaved family." Article 4 of the Broadcasting Act guarantees freedom and independence of broadcasting programming.

He added, "I was dumbfounded, thinking that this government has reached a level where it can openly threaten and terrorize journalists," and "On the other hand, I thought it was typical of the key aides of President Yoon Seok-yeol's office." Chairman Yoon criticized, "Under this government, so-called 'Iptulmak' (a term meaning gagging or silencing) of the media's freedom of expression and the regression of democracy have become normalized," and "It blatantly revealed what kind of historical awareness is shared among the members of the Presidential Office regarding the media and the May 18 Democratic Uprising."