Hong Moon-pyo, president of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), has been abruptly dismissed. The agency is shifting to emergency management under Vice President Kim Chang-kook, who will serve as acting head.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs delivered an official government personnel order to aT on the 29th containing the dismissal decision, according to relevant ministries on the 30th. Hong stepped down from the post effective that day.
The move followed the results of a conduct audit the ministry carried out on aT in May, according to officials. The ministry's audit office reviewed Hong's conduct and attendance records before recommending his dismissal to President Lee Jae-myung. The audit flagged issues including personal use of a company vehicle and attendance problems.
Hong is a former four-term member of the National Assembly. He spent about 14 years on the assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. From 2008 to 2011, he headed the Korea Rural Community Corporation. He was appointed the 20th president of aT in August 2024, under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The dismissal ends his tenure about two years and one month after he took office, with roughly 11 months remaining in his three-year term.
With the top post vacant, aT switched to an acting leadership structure under Kim on the same day. The agency plans to maintain emergency management until a new president is named.
