CJ ENM has been caught in a storm of controversy after rehiring Ahn Joon-young PD, the former producer involved in the manipulation scandal of the Mnet "Produce" series in 2019. The company initially defended the decision, citing Ahn's desire for redemption and rebuilding trust. However, the backlash from the industry, the public, and the company's employees forced CJ ENM to change its stance within two days.

The entertainment giant issued an apology stating, "The decision to provide an opportunity to make amends for past mistakes did not meet the level of social fairness." They also apologized to their employees who have been diligently working to maintain their reputation as the best content company. CJ ENM promised to humbly accept the shortcomings in their hiring standards and quickly address the issues revealed in the recent controversy.

Despite the apology, there was no mention of Ahn's future with the company, which led to further criticism. Responding to calls for concrete action, CJ ENM added that they were in discussions about Ahn's resignation. However, no clear decision has been made yet.

As a result of the controversy, both CJ ENM's external performance and internal morale have been negatively affected. Some speculate that the company is taking responsibility for Ahn's past actions, while others question the need to rehire him, given the availability of other talented PDs.

The situation has raised concerns about the effectiveness of CJ ENM's external directors. In March, Choi Jung-kyung and Han Sang-dae were reappointed as external directors. Both have impressive careers - Choi, a former professor at Korea University Graduate School of Public Administration, is currently the president of the Korea-America Association, while Han is a former Attorney General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Despite their extensive experience, the directors have been criticized for their lack of oversight in the face of ongoing management issues at CJ ENM. To restore its position as a global leader in K-culture, CJ ENM needs more than just verbal apologies; it requires proper rectification, independent and objective advice from external sources.

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