PM's office issues warning to own official for asking lawmaker questions without identifying self

The office of South Korea's Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has issued a reprimand to one of its staff members following a complaint from a lawmaker. The dispute arose after the lawmaker alleged that an official had posed as a journalist and questioned him during a press conference at the National Assembly, according to sources on Friday.

The incident occurred on Thursday during a press briefing by Rep. Han Dong-hoon about a lobbying scandal involving the nominee for justice minister. Midway through the session, an unknown individual asked a question regarding the lawmaker's criticism of the prime minister the previous day. The lawmaker then inquired about the identity of the person asking the question, to which the individual responded that they were a regular citizen.

Subsequently, the individual was identified as an employee of the Prime Minister's Office. Later that day, in a parliamentary interpellation session, Rep. Han criticized the prime minister over the incident, arguing that it constituted unauthorized surveillance of a lawmaker. However, the Prime Minister's Office denied these allegations, stating that the official had asked questions in an opportunistic manner while moving through the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly.