Resignation Amid 'Journalist Dagger Terror' Controversy
Hwang Sang-mu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, resigned on the 20th. It came six days after he was embroiled in a resignation controversy.
President Yoon Suk-yeol accepted Hwang's resignation on the same day, the Presidential Office announced to the media.
The controversy arose after it was reported that Hwang mentioned the 1980s journalist machete attack incident during a lunch with reporters, including those from MBC, on the 14th.
Earlier, on the 14th, MBC reported that during a meal with some reporters, Hwang said, "MBC, listen carefully," followed by inappropriate remarks. At that gathering, Hwang said, "I came from the Defense Security Command, and in 1988, an economic newspaper reporter was stabbed twice with a knife at the Hyundai Apartments in Apgujeong."
The incident Hwang referred to was the so-called ‘Defense Security Command Machete Attack Incident’ in August 1988, where Oh Hong-geun, then head of the social affairs department at an economic newspaper, was attacked by assailants with a machete in front of his home, resulting in deep wounds 4 cm deep and over 30 cm long on his thigh. Investigations revealed that the assailants were active-duty soldiers belonging to the military’s Defense Security Command, acting under orders from superiors displeased with Oh’s critical columns about the military.
Following the report of Hwang’s remarks, criticism spread widely. Opposition parties such as the Democratic Party and the Green Justice Party, as well as press organizations including the Korea Journalists Association, demanded Hwang’s dismissal or resignation.
In response, Hwang issued an official apology on the 16th. It is interpreted that he was concerned that his inappropriate remarks could have a negative impact with less than a month remaining before the general election. Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also pressured Hwang to resign, stating, "His remarks do not meet the public’s expectations, and he should decide his own position."
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