On January 23, reporters from Dispatch’s social and entertainment department, Kim Ji-ho and Kim So-jeong, won the 412th Reporter of the Month Award (for investigative journalism, division 2).
The Korean Journalists Association (President Park Jong-hyun) held the 412th Reporter of the Month awards ceremony at Jung-gu Press Center, Seoul on the same day. A total of 9 works were selected for the award.
In the investigative journalism category, Division 1, JTBC won for its reporting on sexual harassment allegations against a civilian who worked as a Buddhist monk at a restaurant in Lotte. In Division 2, Dispatch won for its reporting on Song Min-ho’s public service negligence. In the broadcast planning and reporting category, KBS Chuncheon won for its report “The Secret of the Red Pine.”
Dispatch’s investigative report titled “Tracking K-pop Idol Public Service Duty Negligence” revealed that WINNER’s Song Min-ho had neglected his duties as a public service employee. Journalists Kim Ji-ho and Kim So-jeong also highlighted the weaknesses of the commuting system for public service employees.
They urgently called for the introduction of an electronic registration system, such as a transport card, to prevent further abuse. After Dispatch’s in-depth reporting, the Military Manpower Administration immediately took action and launched an investigation into the negligent service of public service employees.
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 Law” was also proposed, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon ordered an emergency investigation into the current status of public service workers’ duties.
Kim So-jeong, one of the journalists, said: “The other (public service) workers were doing their jobs correctly. Song Min-ho hadn’t shown up for work in over a month. I thought if someone abuses the system, it should be changed.”
