Han Sung-sook Expresses Regret for Prime Minister’s Office Staff’s Inappropriate Question to Han Dong-hoon, Apologizes to the Public

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook apologized on the 11th regarding an incident in which a staff member from the Prime Minister's Office concealed their identity and asked a question during a press conference held by Independent Assemblyman Han Dong-hoon.

During the government-wide questioning session at the National Assembly that day, Assemblyman Song Eon-seok from the People Power Party asked, “There is a controversy that a staff member from the Prime Minister’s Office recently monitored a member of the National Assembly. Is this true?” Prime Minister Han replied, “It was not surveillance,” but admitted, “Our staff member went to Assemblyman Han’s press conference and I believe they asked an inappropriate question.” She added, “We have explained the situation to the National Assembly Speaker’s office, and I understand that the First Vice Minister has visited Assemblyman Han’s office to apologize.”

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook attended the government-wide questioning session on economic affairs held at the National Assembly on the 11th, responding to inquiries from lawmakers. 2026.09.11 Photo by Yoon Dongju

When Assemblyman Song asked if the Prime Minister herself had any intention to apologize, Prime Minister Han said, “It was an inappropriate action to ask such a question, and especially with the staff member responding as if they were an ordinary citizen and causing unnecessary controversy, I would like to express my regret.” In response to Assemblyman Song’s suggestion that she should also apologize to the public, Prime Minister Han stated, “I am sincerely sorry to the people.”

This issue was raised again during the government questioning by Democratic Party Assemblyman Jeong Jin-wook. Assemblyman Jeong said, “Assemblyman Han claims that the Prime Minister’s Office was surveying him. Could you explain the situation?” To this, Prime Minister Han stated, “It was during Assemblyman Han’s press conference—our staff member had stepped out to smoke and as they came back in, they made an inappropriate comment, and claiming to be an ordinary citizen was also inappropriate.” She added, “Once again, I sincerely apologize to the public for this matter.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.