Park Deok-hum: "If I am a conflict of interest, then the president's children cannot get a job anywhere"

"Family company won construction contract through open competitive bidding"
"(Family company) secured fewer contracts than before"

Park Deok-heum, Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Park Deok-heum, a member of the People Power Party who has been embroiled in allegations of receiving preferential contracts worth 100 billion won through a family-owned construction company from agencies under the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, asserted his innocence on the 21st, stating that "there is no conflict of interest."

In an interview with 'Yonhap News' on the same day, Park said, "If I am considered a conflict of interest, then the president's sons and daughters should not be allowed to work anywhere," adding, "If the company's sales increase or the company does well, it would all be considered a conflict of interest."

He continued, "The family company won the contract through an open competitive bidding process," emphasizing, "If the fairness of this bidding is denied, it would mean the collapse of the Republic of Korea."

He also lamented, "My son, who runs the construction company, has faced many business restrictions because of me," and "The amount of contracts won has significantly decreased compared to before. That makes me feel bad."

Regarding his resignation from the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee after the allegations surfaced, he said, "I did not want to burden the party," and stressed, "If there was any preferential treatment in winning the contract, I should be punished and face the judgment of the law."

Park is suspected of having his construction companies, in which he and his family are major shareholders, secure contracts worth up to 100 billion won from agencies under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport during his five years as a member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee in the 20th National Assembly.

The allegations were first raised by MBC's 'Straight' program. Subsequently, on the 17th, Park issued a press release denying the allegations. At that time, he stated, "I have never exerted influence on the contract awards," and "I will take legal action against the media that raised the allegations."

Afterward, he resigned from the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and moved to the Environment and Labor Committee.