Presidential secretary resigns after controversial remarks on journalist stabbing

Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social affairs, resigned after making inappropriate remarks about a 1988 knife attack on a journalist, the presidential office said Wednesday.

Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social affairs, speaks during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul last December. [YONHAP]

Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social affairs, resigned after making inappropriate remarks about a 1988 knife attack on a journalist, the presidential office said Wednesday.

"President Yoon Suk Yeol has accepted the tendered resignation from Hwang," the office said, without specifying the exact date when the secretary submitted his intent to step down from the post.

The resignation comes nearly a week after public broadcaster MBC reported his comments made during last Thursday’s private luncheon with correspondents in the presidential office.

According to the coverage on Thursday, Hwang brought up an incident where a journalist critical of military authority was stabbed by trained agents in southern Seoul in 1988, telling MBC to “listen carefully.” He also cast doubt over the legitimacy of a 1987 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, according to the report.

The report sparked political controversy ahead of the April general election, resulting in a situation where both the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and the liberal Democratic Party (DP) called for his withdrawal from the presidential office.

“The remarks cannot be endorsed by the public and Hwang should decide on his whereabouts,” said PPP’s interim leader Han Dong-hoon on Sunday, a day after Hwang issued an apology statement.

Also, DP leader Lee Jae-myung demanded the president replace Hwang and apologize publicly, saying his remarks were “coercive.”

In Saturday’s statement, Hwang wrote, “I apologize to the people for the concern my words and behavior have caused and feel sorry to reporters for failing to consider their stances and positions.” He said he would behave more attentively and discreetly as a public servant and official.

On Monday, the presidential office released a statement dismissing allegations of media censorship and power abuse, saying that “respecting the freedom of the press and their responsibilities are the key principles" of its governance. It also said the Yoon administration has never exercised power over people from media companies and it will not do so in the future.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]