Dispatch Wins Reporter of the Month’ for Exposing WINNER’s Song Min-ho’s Scandal?
On January 23, Dispatch’s social and entertainment department reporters, Kim Ji-ho and Kim So-jeong, won the 412th Reporter of the Month award (for investigative reporting, division 2).
The Korean Journalist Association (President Park Jong-hyun) held the 412th Reporter of the Month award ceremony at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the same day. A total of 9 works were selected for the award.
In the investigative reporting, division 1 category, JTBC won for its report on sexual harassment allegations against a civilian working as a Buddhist monk in a Lotte restaurant. In division 2, Dispatch won for its report on Song Min-ho’s public service duty negligence. In the planning and reporting broadcast category, KBS Chuncheon won for its report “The Secret of the Red Pine Tree.”
Dispatch’s investigative report titled “Tracking K-pop Idol Public Service Duty Negligence” revealed that Song Min-ho of WINNER had been neglecting his duties as a public service worker. Reporters Kim Ji-ho and Kim So-jeong also exposed the weaknesses in the commuting system for public service workers.
They urgently called for the introduction of an electronic record system, such as a commute card, to prevent further abuse. After Dispatch’s in-depth report, the Military Manpower Administration immediately took action and launched an investigation into the negligent service of public service workers.
The police are currently investigating Song Min-ho’s suspected violation of military service laws. On the 6th of this month, the “Song Min-ho Prevention Act” was also proposed, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon ordered an emergency investigation into the current state of public service workers’ duties.
Kim So-jeong, one of the reporters, stated, “Other (public service) workers were doing their jobs properly. Song Min-ho hadn’t shown up for work for over a month. I thought that if someone abuses the system, it should be changed.”
