A Korean American chief of staff closely associated with Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the U.S. secretary of labor, was removed from duty and placed on administrative leave after allegedly failing to act on suspected manipulation of the secretary’s travel records. The action came as the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General investigates the allegations.
The New York Post reported that Jihun Han, chief of staff to the labor secretary, and Rebecca Wright, the deputy chief of staff, were removed from their posts and placed on administrative leave on January 12th. Han drew attention within the Korean American community when he was appointed to the role in March 2025, marking a rare ascent to a senior federal position.
The Office of Inspector General said the move was an administrative step intended to prevent the two officials from influencing departmental operations or personnel decisions during the investigation. It stressed that placement on leave does not constitute a determination of wrongdoing. It remains unclear who will manage the secretary’s office during their absence or whether the aides will continue to receive pay.
The investigation reportedly began after a tip was submitted to the inspector general in December 2025. According to the document, Chavez-DeRemer allegedly classified personal activities and family visits as official trips, with Han and Wright accused of planning schedules and events tied to those travels.
The document claims the secretary repeatedly visited Oregon, Arizona, Michigan, and Las Vegas. It alleges that of more than 50 official trips outside Washington DC over the past year, at least 10 were personal visits. It also states that the secretary traveled to Las Vegas at least four times in 2025.
Beyond the travel allegations, the tip also accused the secretary of maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and consuming alcohol during work hours.
Han, an Oregon native, has worked with Chavez-DeRemer since her tenure as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He previously built political experience through organizations including the Oregon Association of Realtors and local political groups, and later served as her senior aide in Congress before becoming chief of staff at the Department of Labor.
The White House and the Department of Labor denied the allegations. A department spokesperson said Chavez-DeRemer has complied with all ethics rules and departmental policies. The secretary’s husband also issued a statement rejecting the claims, and her office is reportedly considering legal action against the source of the tip.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
