[3] Munhwa Ilbo was Hyundai's first target for separation as it begin trying to slim down its vast business empire; the divestiture was part of a larger trend at the time of chaebol selling off non-core assets and reducing excessive diversification.
[5] In January 2002, Munhwa Ilbo began to publish a serial novel Gangan Namja (강안남자) about the sexual exploits of a divorced car salesman, which attracted some public controversy.
[7] Grand National Party spokeswoman Na Kyung-won issued a statement opining that the real reason for the Blue House's subscription cancellation was Munhwa Ilbo's criticism of the presidential administration, an accusation which a Blue House spokesman denied.
However, the KPEC rejected Munhwa Ilbo's explanation, and ordered the daily to apologise, stating that they had damaged the dignity of all print media.
[9] In the end, Shin filed suit over the photos and the newspaper's coverage of her, receiving W150 million (US$113,000) in compensation in December 2008.