Choi Hwi-young, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, responded to the question, "Didn't NHN (then NAVER) benefit from the 'Sea Story' incident that arose in the early 2000s?" by stating, "I do not agree that NHN benefitted." Choi has served as the CEO of NHN since 2002.
During a personnel hearing held at the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th, People Power Party member Jeong Yeon-wook launched an offensive, citing media reports at the time that stated NHN, which provided web board games through the game portal "Hangame," had gained a windfall due to the Sea Story incident that emerged in the 2000s.
Member Jeong Yeon-wook said, "There were reports that the biggest beneficiary of the Sea Story incident was NHN."
Sea Story is an arcade game similar to slot machines. It awarded gift certificates to players who won in the game, but due to its gambling nature, it produced numerous victims.
As a result, various games, including Sea Story, came under regulation. Some raised suspicions that as Sea Story was restricted, NHN, which provided Go-Stop and poker services, benefited.
Choi, the nominee, stated, "I do not agree that NHN benefitted from the (Sea Story incident)" and added, "It is not true that Hangame gained revenue due to the crackdown on Sea Story." In particular, he refuted, "The overall revenue of the gaming industry was continuously growing at that time."