Defense agency head reportedly ousted for suspected misuse of authority
In early August 2025, Chae Il, the former head of South Korea's state defense media agency, was dismissed following allegations of power abuse. The dismissal came after a week-long audit conducted by the Defense Ministry in July, following public complaints about Chae Il's alleged misconduct.
Chae Il, a former broadcast journalist, was appointed to lead the defense media agency in May 2023. However, his tenure was marked by controversy, with allegations of power abuse surfacing. The allegations centred around Chae Il's actions during the 12·3 state of emergency, when he is said to have instructed the cessation of subscriptions to progressive newspapers and restricted reports on sensitive issues. These actions were seen as an abuse of his authority over the media agency.
The allegations against Chae Il also involved unfair influence on the agency's coverage, with criticism over his perceived lack of political neutrality in editing news involving President Lee Jae Myung and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, no further details about the nature of the power abuse have been provided. It is known that the allegations do not relate to criminal charges but rather administrative misconduct regarding media censorship during a politically sensitive period.
Chae Il had previously served as an aide to former President Yoon Suk Yeol during his presidential election campaign. As of now, no information has been given about who will replace Chae Il as the head of the state defense media agency.
The defense ministry made the decision to dismiss Chae Il following the audit, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations against him. This move is significant as it underscores the importance of media independence and the need for transparency in public office.
- The dismissal of Chae Il, the former head of South Korea's state defense media agency, underscores the significance of policy-and-legislation regarding media independence, as his actions during the 12·3 state of emergency were perceived as an abuse of power and a violation of general-news reporting.
- The politics surrounding Chae Il's tenure as the head of South Korea's state defense media agency have been under scrutiny, with allegations of unfair influence on the agency's coverage and perceived lack of political neutrality in editing news involving President Lee Jae Myung and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.
