Park Jong-un, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission member (Dongguk University Energy Gi Gong-hak-gwa (Prof.)), who sparked controversy with “harsh words” posts on social media (SNS), apologized at the national audit on the 23rd for the problematic speech and conduct. However, he defended himself against allegations that he intentionally delayed a Nuclear Safety and Security Commission meeting, stating it was “a sense of justification.”
Commissioner Park spoke to this effect when he appeared as a witness at the afternoon comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT by the National Assembly Science and ICT Committee held at the Seoul Yeouido National Assembly.
Earlier in the morning, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Hwang Jung-a cited posts that Park (Rep.) had uploaded to SNS during his tenure as a Nuclear Safety and Security Commission member, pointing out that he “completely violated not only public ethics but also existing law.”
Commissioner Park has continuously posted on SNS defaming various ruling and opposition politicians, journalists, and academic figures while mixing in vulgar language. In particular, controversy arose when he posted what appeared to be a mocking post about a humanoid demonstration showcased by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) researchers during the previous Science and ICT Committee national audit.
Hwang (Rep.) said, “In one sentence from the commissioner, the efforts of researchers and students were defamed as mockery,” and demanded, “Apologize to the KAIST researchers and students who are still diligently devoted solely to research in their labs.”
Commissioner Park responded, “As an ordinary citizen, I was personally venting unrelated to my duties,” while adding, “I will apologize if it was a student, professor, or lawmaker.”
When Hwang (Rep.) said, “SNS is not a private diary,” and asked, “Can you read (the sentence written by Commissioner Park) directly?”, Commissioner Park trailed off, saying, “That one thing, I…”
It is known that Commissioner Park deactivated his account after the SNS controversy. He explained, “I deactivated it because there were people who would be hurt if there were inappropriate posts.”
Commissioner Park is also known to have made several inappropriate remarks at a Nuclear Safety and Security Commission meeting he attended as a member.
According to an audio recording released by Hwang (Rep.), Commissioner Park made remarks such as, “Only the chair should maintain dignity,” “Are you an MC? I’m asking if you’re an MC,” and “You have truly impressive resilience” to Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairman Choi Won-ho. At a meeting on the 30th of last month, he also left before the meeting was adjourned, saying, “Keep delaying the time, I’ll go out first.”
Commissioner Park admitted, “According to the recording, (I did make such remarks),” and explained, “When topics related to expertise come up, I ask many questions, and if I think the answers are insufficient, I ask again. Agitated words came out during the chair’s process of restraining this,” adding, “I reflect on that itself.”
However, regarding allegations that the approval of the accident management plan for Units 3 and 4 of the Gori nuclear plant was delayed due to obstruction of meeting proceedings, he stated, “Extending the lifespan of a nuclear plant requires considering safety issues, so I asked many questions. It is not that my many questions caused the delay in approval,” adding, “It came from a sense of justification.” He also added, “There is no regulation stating when a Nuclear Safety and Security Commission meeting must end.”
In response, Science and ICT Committee Chair Song Gi-heon said, “It is regrettable that the witness’s professional knowledge and activities have been greatly diminished due to their speech and conduct,” and urged again, “Such an attitude by the witness can become an obstacle when upholding the values they seek to protect, so (this point) must be kept in mind.”
People Power Party lawmaker Choi Hyeong-du raised his voice, saying, “It is extremely dangerous for someone handling nuclear safety to make such remarks even in a private space,” and added, “If it constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, discipline must definitely be imposed.”
Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairman Choi Won-ho stated, “We are reviewing legislation to specify the ethics and obligations that Nuclear Safety and Security Commission members should uphold.”
Meanwhile, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission requested Commissioner Park in the morning of the same day to appear directly at the national audit to explain the controversy. Commissioner Park, who resides in Gyeongju, initially expressed that attendance was difficult because train tickets to Seoul were sold out, but later managed to secure a ticket and appeared at the national audit about five hours later.
in TECH
