KT CEO Kim Young-shub, asked whether he will apply to be a candidate for the next KT CEO, said it is only right to take responsibility for the incident. Kim was summoned to the National Assembly three times in October alone to determine responsibility for the small-sum billing damage scandal. With Kim signaling he is effectively giving up on another term, it appears the ruling party led a series of summons meant to humiliate him and pressure him to resign.
On Oct. 29, Kim appeared as a witness at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's comprehensive audit at the National Assembly and, when Chairperson Choi Min-hee asked if he would seek another term, he said he would take responsibility, effectively indicating he would forgo a second term.
Chairperson Choi called Kim back as he was about to return to his seat after questioning by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Hyeon. Choi asked, Has the process to choose a new KT chief begun now? Kim said he understood that the procedure to start selecting candidates for a new chief would begin in early November.
Chairperson Choi asked Kim, Will you apply for that? After a brief hesitation, Kim said, As I said before, because the CEO bears overall responsibility for management and given that various incidents occurred, I said it is only right to take appropriate responsibility.
When Chairperson Choi asked again, Will you apply?, Kim said, It is not appropriate to say that here, adding that he would make his position clear at the soon-to-be-held board meeting. The KT board is known to be meeting on Nov. 4.
However, when Chairperson Choi asked, There have been many problems, managerial failures, and incidents. Will you take responsibility for that?, he said, I think it is only right to take responsibility for that. Choi responded, We will take that as your answer, and said, You may go.
Kim had already indicated at the audit on the 21st that he was effectively giving up on another term. Nevertheless, ruling party lawmakers re-summoned him that day to ask about his intention to seek another term. On the 21st, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Noh Jong-myeon asked Kim, Does that mean appropriate responsibility including resignation?, and Kim replied, Responsibility that encompasses (resignation).
This month marked Kim's third summons to the audit. Including last month's hearing, it was the fourth. Throughout the audit, he faced strong pressure to resign, centered on the ruling party. That day as well, before Chairperson Choi's questions, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Hoon-gi said to Kim, It seems you will not be able to serve another term. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Hwang Jeong-a also said at last month's hearing, Do not cling to another term; you should take responsibility and step down.
Kim's term runs until March next year. KT is said to begin selecting candidates for a new chief in early next month. The board's Nomination Committee, made up of eight outside directors, will select one candidate for CEO through document screening and interviews, considering internal candidates as well. Kim was initially said to have intended to seek another term until before the hacking incident broke out. However, as calls grew for accountability over KT's unauthorized small-sum billing scandal, his future became uncertain.