An employee affiliated with the prime minister's office who, without identifying himself, asked a question at an independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's press conference and sparked a surveillance controversy was removed from duties on the 14th. It came three days after Prime Minister Han Seong-sook apologized during a National Assembly interpellation session on the 11th.
On the 10th, at Han's press conference, the employee, without identifying himself, asked, "You posted on Facebook today that the prime minister is directing the investigation. Do you really think the prime minister is directing the investigation?" But when Han then asked him to state his affiliation, he answered, "a private citizen," fueling controversy. The opposition raised suspicions that "the prime minister's office may have surveilled an opposition lawmaker."
At the time, Han said, "As a public official, asking a question at an opposition lawmaker's press conference without clearly identifying oneself was inappropriate conduct," adding, "In particular, I express my regret to lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and to the public for having answered 'a private citizen' and causing unnecessary controversy."
However, regarding suspicions of surveillance by the prime minister's office, Han drew a line, saying, "It was not surveillance." Han added, "I am sorry to the public," noting that the prime minister's office explained the circumstances to the National Assembly speaker's office and that Kim Young-soo, first vice minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, visited Han's office to apologize.
During the interpellation session the same day, Han also said, "I answered clearly last Friday and apologized to lawmaker Han." In response to a point by People Power Party lawmaker Seo Beom-su that the employee should be held accountable, Han said, "We will prepare measures to prevent a recurrence where necessary."