Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda, resigned on Wednesday following pressure from ruling and opposition parties. He jokingly warned journalists on March 15 about potential consequences for publishing stories critical of the government, referencing a 1988 incident in which military intelligence soldiers stabbed a journalist in retaliation for writing news stories critical of the Roh Tae-woo administration.

President Yoon Suk-yeol accepted Hwang’s resignation amid growing concerns within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) that the controversy could negatively impact the party’s prospects in next month’s general elections, particularly among swing voters in the Seoul metropolitan area. While the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) welcomed Hwang’s resignation, the minor opposition Green Justice Party criticized Yoon’s decision not to dismiss him.