The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that all five candidates who reached the interview stage were rejected. The ministry plans to launch a new recruitment process soon.
The ministry and the agency began accepting applications on Jan. 13 and later interviewed five finalists, but all were deemed unqualified, according to officials. Those interviewed reportedly included actor Lee Won Jong, who has publicly supported President Lee Jae Myung.
A ministry official said it is too early to say when the new recruitment will begin, noting that an executive recommendation committee must be newly formed each time the process opens.