Rep. Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, answers reporters' questions at the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall on Thursday. (Yonhap)
Rep. Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, answers reporters' questions at the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall on Thursday. (Yonhap)

The Prime Minister's Office on Thursday rebuffed claims that one of its division chiefs had engaged in "surveillance" of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon during his press conference, calling the allegation false.

In a press release distributed that day, the Prime Minister's Office said the official, identified only as division chief A, "happened to be passing by with a colleague when he came across the press conference underway at the Rotunda Hall, a public space accessible to anyone, and impulsively asked a question out of curiosity."

"The report that he deliberately infiltrated a press conference with restricted access is not true," the office added.

Addressing the controversial Telegram group chat, the office said, "Division chief A opened a group chat and asked a question in order to accurately read a social media post by the lawmaker that he had shared. Claims by Han's side of 'lawmaker surveillance' or a 'prime minister's order' are also entirely untrue."

However, the office acknowledged that "regardless of the reason, it was inappropriate conduct for a sitting public official to ask a question at a National Assembly member's press conference without disclosing his identity," adding, "We have issued a stern warning over this."

Earlier that day, during a question-and-answer session with reporters, Han took issue with the fact that division chief A had asked a question while displaying a Telegram chat room on his phone. The chat was titled "Prime Minister + Senior Officials Room." Writing on Facebook, Han identified the man as a division chief at the Prime Minister's Office. He said, "The nature of his questions and their hostile tone seemed odd, so I asked which outlet he was from." He added, "He pretended to be a reporter, then lied and said he was an ordinary citizen. It is truly absurd and bizarre."

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. (Yonhap)

Han Dong-hoon also raised the issue during a National Assembly interpellation session, criticizing it as potential surveillance of an opposition lawmaker. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said, "If there was anything inappropriate, we will deal with it strictly," but suggested the surveillance claim was excessive.


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com