Prime Minister Apologizes a Day After Allegations of Surveillance on Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hun

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook has apologized over allegations that the Prime Minister's Secretariat engaged in the surveillance of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hun, admitting to "inappropriate conduct."

Attending an economic interpellation session at the National Assembly this afternoon, Prime Minister Han stated, "We have explained the situation to the National Assembly Speaker's Office, and I understand we are scheduled to visit Lawmaker Han's office at 2 p.m. to offer an apology."

When People Power Party Lawmaker Song Eon-seok demanded an apology, the Prime Minister responded, "As a public official, I believe it was inappropriate to ask questions at an opposition lawmaker's press conference without clearly disclosing my identity."

[Han Sung-sook / Prime Minister: I express my regret to Lawmaker Han Dong-hun and the public for causing unnecessary misunderstandings and controversy, particularly by responding that I was a private citizen.]

When Lawmaker Song raised suspicions that the Prime Minister's Office operates a surveillance team, Prime Minister Han denied the claim.

[Han Sung-sook / Prime Minister: It was not surveillance. Our staff member went there and, after staying for a while, made what I consider to be an inappropriate question.]

Previously, during yesterday's foreign affairs, unification, and national security interpellation session, Lawmaker Han demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Han regarding the surveillance allegations.

Following the session, the Prime Minister's Office denied any lawmaker surveillance or directives from the Prime Minister, explaining that "a division head belonging to the Prime Minister's Office spontaneously asked questions out of curiosity in a public place."

The office added, "Regardless of the reason, it was an inappropriate action for a current public official to ask questions without revealing their identity at a lawmaker's press conference, and we have issued a stern warning."

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.