Embattled minister backed

Civil servants have come out in support of Chin Dae-je, the newly appointed Minister of Information and Communication, despite the controversy over his professional ethics. “We ask Mr. Chin to thoroughly reflect on his faults, but we hope he apologizes through his devotion and dedication to the nation and its people,” said the Information Ministry’s Civil Servant Association in a statement yesterday. The association is the equivalent of a labor union for lower-ranked civil servants. It has 153 members. “On March 8, about 10 leaders of the association communed to review our position over Mr. Chin,” said Jang Bong-jo, who heads the association. “Some opposed his appointment, but the overriding view was that the Information Ministry needs him.” Mr. Chin, who spearheaded Korea’s memory chip business through Samsung Electronics Co. before his nomination, has recently been questioned about his integrity after it was revealed his 25-year-old son avoided military service by holding a United States citizenship. Mr. Chin also maintained his family status as “emigrated” for 15 years, despite residing in Korea. by Kim Hyo-jin