The Ministry of National Defense has removed the position of the director of the Defense Media Agency, Chae Il, on the 4th, amid allegations of abuse of power and verbal abuse, sparking controversy over political neutrality.
The Ministry of National Defense noted on the same day that it had requested disciplinary action from the Central Disciplinary Committee against Chae for violating the duty of fidelity and the duty to maintain dignity under the State Public Officials Act, and that it had suspended his position until a disciplinary decision was reached. Additionally, they have referred the matter to investigate the possibility of applying charges of coercion and defamation under the criminal law.
The Ministry of National Defense has conducted an audit regarding the allegations against Director Chae from the 24th to the 30th of last month. Chae is accused of instructing the cessation of subscriptions to progressive newspapers following the 12·3 state of emergency and restricting reports on the first phone call between President Yoon Suk-yeol and the U.S. President after his inauguration.
The Defense Daily is the official newspaper of the Ministry of National Defense. Allegations have arisen that on the 28th of last month, while reporting on the inaugural speech of Minister Ahn Gyu-baek of the Ministry of National Defense, it intentionally omitted references to the 12·3 state of emergency. In response, President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized Minister Ahn in the Cabinet meeting on the 29th of last month, stating, "I think you need to maintain discipline well."
Chae, a former journalist, served as a public relations advisor for the Yoon Suk-yeol campaign during the presidential election in his 20s and was appointed as the director of the Defense Media Agency in May 2023.