Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Cheong Wa Dae accused of pressuring state bank to remove KT&G chief
Shin Jae-in / Screengrab of YouTube
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
A former government official claimed that Cheong Wa Dae pressured a state bank to change the leadership of local tobacco maker KT&G.
Shin Jae-in, who worked at the Ministry of Economy and Finance from 2014 to July this year, claimed the ministry ― at the presidential office's request ― pressured Industrial Bank of Korea, the second-largest shareholder of KT&G, to oppose the reappointment of its CEO Baek Bok-in at a shareholders’ meeting early this year.
Shin claimed he leaked the documents about the ministry’s plan to broadcaster MBC, which broke the story in May.
In a YouTube video, he said he felt “ashamed” of being part of the administration that was “abusing” its power. “That’s why I quit,” he added.
The ministry denied his allegations, saying he was not in a position to know such information.
IBK did oppose Baek’s reappointment, but he was kept on as KT&G CEO anyway.
Check the video here: