Government Officials Face Disciplinary Action

The presidential office has made a final decision regarding disciplinary action that will be taken against officials of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department for their derogatory remarks regarding President Roh Moo-hyun. Two officials, including Cho Hyun-dong, the Chief of North America Department, are to be castigated according to the office. The final decision has been reported to President Roh. The office will notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade so that adequate measures can be taken.

The presidential office also claimed that these problematic remarks were not confined to private occasions, but that they took place in public forums including government meetings and offices.

“Cho has continually made these kinds of remarks to his subordinates during daily morning meetings,” said one presidential office official. “The remarks printed in the papers were rather mild and took place in official places, compared to other remarks made in private that were much more problematic.”

The official also noted that the investigation was not based on an anonymous request, but on a call from a named informant.

Yoon Young-kwan, foreign affairs and trade minister, said he would monitor the investigation and make a decision on the matter according to existing rules.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com