Empty Office Raises Questions About TV Home Shopping Association Chairman’s Conduct
An empty office. Not a single book on the shelves. This is the office of Lee Sang-rok, Chairman of the Korea TV Home Shopping Association and former spokesperson for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s campaign. Despite being a full-time position, reports suggest he only shows up about once a week.
[Association Official]
“We were informed that he wouldn’t be coming to the office.”
{Oh, he’s not coming in?} “Yes.”
Chairman Lee is facing criticism for allegedly misusing corporate funds and business expenses provided by member companies. His corporate card records show frequent charges at luxury hotels such as Westin Chosun, Shilla, Banyan Tree Club, Parnas, and Conrad. He made single payments of ₩1 million, ₩1.3 million, and ₩900,000, even on weekends. In total, he spent approximately ₩27 million at high-end hotels alone.
That’s not all. Lee also teaches part-time at a university, and at nearby restaurants—where meals typically cost around ₩10,000—he regularly spent ₩300,000 to ₩400,000 per visit using the corporate card.
[Restaurant Owner]
“I don’t know names or occupations, but yes, there have been people who spent like that.”
Even at a noodle shop and a sandwich café just five minutes away, he made similar high-value payments. At just three restaurants near the university, he spent around ₩3.7 million.
Industry insiders who reviewed his spending reportedly said, “He’s worse than Lee Jin-sook,” referencing another official previously investigated for corporate card misuse. Lee’s annual salary is estimated at ₩210 million.
[Han Min-soo / Democratic Party Lawmaker]
“There are serious allegations that he’s receiving a massive salary without properly fulfilling his duties. There are even claims he used the association’s business funds for personal expenses. I believe this warrants a formal investigation.”
Chairman Lee has refused to respond to media inquiries, repeatedly asking for official documents instead.
JTBC also previously reported that in March of last year, Lee arranged a meeting between top home shopping company executives and close aides of First Lady Kim Kun-hee—known as the “Presidential Office’s First Lady Team.”
Reporter: Choi Jae-won ([email protected])
In a way, their behavior is consistently predictable.
There’s no need to anticipate anything or look for differences—because they always act the same.
Their sole concern is: “How can I pocket more money?”
In essence, they are a pure interest group.
They don’t care what happens to the country or how much suffering the people endure.
Had the Democratic Party not come to power, our nation could have fallen into the depths of dictatorship and backwardness.
Don’t dismiss this as just another political crisis—wake up.
These people still occupy thousands of leadership positions across public institutions.
Let’s remember this.