Fire Commissioner: "Received Order to Cooperate in Power Cut to Media Outlets During Martial Law"

Answer at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee
"It was not a clear order"

Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon stated regarding whether former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min ordered power and water cuts to major media outlets during the emergency martial law on December 3, "If there was a request from the National Police Agency regarding certain specific media outlets, I was instructed to cooperate."

Yoon Geon-young, Democratic Party of Korea Lawmaker, Yonhap News Agency

On the 13th, during a current affairs inquiry at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Commissioner Heo responded to Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young's question, "Did former Minister Lee order power and water cuts to progressive media such as Hankyoreh, Kyunghyang, and MBC, and did the Fire Commissioner, who received the order, consult with the deputy commissioner?"

When Yoon asked, "During the meetings chaired by the Fire Commissioner after the martial law announcement, did former Minister Lee discuss or notify you by phone about power and water cuts to major media outlets?" Commissioner Heo avoided a direct answer, saying, "I do not remember exactly."

When Yoon pressed again, "It has only been a month, so is it acceptable not to remember? What issue is more important than power and water cuts to media outlets?" Commissioner Heo replied, "There was no clear order for power and water cuts, but if there was cooperation requested by the police..."

When Yoon continued to press, asking, "Did the Fire Agency receive instructions to cooperate when the police or any other agency carried out power and water cuts to major media outlets?" Commissioner Heo said, "That was the nuance," but added, "Power and water cuts are not part of fire services, so I could not give a clear answer, and former Minister Lee did not give a clear order either."