Chief Hong Chul-ho Says 'Rude Reporter' Eventually Apologizes

[News FM Lee Ik-seon Choi Soo-young Issue & People]
□ Broadcast Date: 21st November 2024 (Thursday)
□ Host: Lee Ik-seon, Choi Soo-young
□ Cast: Announcer Lee Hyun-woong

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.
◇ Lee Ik-seon: Let's open the second part with Aung Da-woong News. Announcer Lee Hyunwoong, who will be with us today as well, is here. Hello~

◆ Hello!

◇ Lee Ik-seon: First news. President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home this morning after his tour of South America, right?

◆ Lee Hyun-woong: Yes. That's right. I returned home this morning after finishing my schedule for 5 nights and 8 days. As I have reported, through the APEC and G20 summits, I sent a message criticizing Russia and North Korea's illegal military cooperation and discussed ways to cooperate with major countries such as the United States and Japan.

Now, we face a pile of domestic issues again. The biggest challenge is also the appointment of individuals.

The presidential office is known to be continuing behind-the-scenes personnel verification. Earlier on the 7th, President Yoon said, "We are looking for and verifying the talent pool to show the aspect of innovation through personnel at the right time."

Inside and outside the political circle, it is predicted that the prime minister and ministers who have been in office for more than two years will be the main targets of appointment.

In addition, the size is also in double digits, and it is expected that a mid-range reshuffle will be carried out to gain momentum for state affairs in the second half of his administration.

Considering the National Assembly's review of next year's budget plan, it is highly likely that the cabinet reshuffle will be around the middle of next month, and the replacement of the presidential staff is also expected to proceed.

◇ Choi Soo-young: Prime Minister Han Deok-soo has expressed his intention to resign since the general election in April, but it seems that the prospect of a real replacement is gaining weight this time?

◆ Lee Hyun-woong: There is a high possibility of replacement because it can show a strong will to reform state affairs.

The replacement of the prime minister, which needs to be approved by the National Assembly in the face of opposition parties, is certainly not an easy decision. First of all, six-term National Assembly Vice Chairman Joo Ho-young, five-term People's Power lawmaker Kwon Young-se, former lawmaker Lee Jung-hyun from Honam, and Cho Tae-yong, head of the National Intelligence Service, have been mentioned as candidates.

In addition, we are interested in whether the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who has been vacant for a long time, and the newly established Minister of Population Strategy and Planning will be appointed.

◇ Lee Ik-seon: Here's the news. Recently, Hong Chul-ho, senior secretary for political affairs, became controversial when he said he was rude to a reporter who specifically asked President Yoon Suk Yeol what he was apologizing for at the press conference. You finally made an official apology?

◆ [Lee Hyun-woong] Yes, that's right. At the time of President Yoon's press conference on the 7th, a reporter from the Busan Ilbo asked for a supplementary explanation, saying, "The president apologized, and I think the public will be confused about what he apologized."

In this regard, Chief Hong's remarks during the National Assembly Steering Committee's response on the day before yesterday became controversial.

Chief Hong said the reporter's question was rude and said he thought parents should correct their attitude of "what did you do wrong" as if they were telling a child.

Then, criticism immediately erupted over this remark. First of all, the Busan Ilbo wrote in an editorial today, "It is like presenting some kind of guideline to point out that the media's attitude should be corrected," adding, "We cannot help but ask if it is intended to control the media to cover the mistakes of power and cover the eyes and ears of the people."

Earlier, the Busan Ilbo branch of the Korea Journalists Association also called for Chief Hong's replacement, pointing out that "the media is not a partner of power."

The daily newspaper 'Jo Joong-dong', which is considered to be conservative, also criticized all together, saying they were an anachronistic media view.

As the scandal grew, Chief Hong eventually said his remarks were not appropriate and that he apologized to reporters and media officials of the Busan Ilbo.

◇ Choi Soo-young: The railway union, which is continuing the law-abiding struggle, held the press conference that was announced this morning, but did the schedule for a general strike come out?

◆ Lee Hyun-woong: Yes. The railway union held a press conference in front of Seoul Station today and said, "If there is no change in the position of the government and the railway corporation, we will go on an indefinite general strike from December 5."

The union said the general strike was an inevitable option and that it was a legitimate struggle to be recognized for the safety of citizens, trains and due labor.

Reorganizing what the union is demanding is a 2.5% increase in basic salary, the same standard of incentives as other public institutions, the suspension of manpower reduction and outsourcing, the recruitment of safety personnel, and the suspension of driver's room surveillance cameras.

Specifically, nine routes and 51 stations, including the West Sea Line, the Central Inland Line, and the East Sea Line, will open this year, pointing out that jobs should be increased as transportation expands, but safety personnel have not increased. According to the union's own estimate, the number of people needed for the opening of new lines is about 1,000, but in fact, only about 200 people have been added.

Prior to the general strike, the railway union decided to hold a global nightly general meeting in front of major stations across the country from the 25th to the 28th.

As I told you yesterday, concerns over railroad chaos intensified early next month because the Seoul Transportation Corporation union has already announced a general strike on the 6th of next month.

The Korea Railroad Corporation said it is making every effort to minimize customer inconvenience.

◇ Lee Ik-seon: The last one is a bit of absurd news. I bought 5kg of tangerines, but the seller sent me only 4.5kg and said, "Because if you put it full, it will explode"?

◆ Lee Hyun-woong: Yes. A consumer's post on the community is spreading widely. The writer ordered five kilograms of citrus from a company through an online store. After receiving the package, I weighed the amount that looked small and it was only 4.5kg.

I complained to the company that the weight didn't fit, but I was puzzled by the response I received afterwards.

The company apologized first, but our company said that delivery safety is the top priority for your fresh tangerine experience. He said that if the tangerines are full of 5kg, there is a risk of bursting or spoiling by pressing the tangerines, and instead of taking out a little, he added shock-relieving agents and wrapped them so that the tangerines are not pressed.

People who have seen this article are responding, "Then shouldn't we sell it after specifying that it's 4.5kg?" and "We should get a box that can't be pressed even if we put 5kg." In general, it is an atmosphere that does not sympathize with the seller's position.

◇ Lee Ik-seon: We've looked at all the news prepared today.

◆ Lee Hyun-woong: Yes, thank you.