Kim Osu to Receive Up to 29 Million KRW Monthly Salary at Law Firm After Retirement

Regarding the controversy over preferential treatment for former officials, Candidate Kim states "Amount according to formal advisory contract"

Prosecutor General nominee Kim Osu is arriving at the office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] It has been confirmed that nominee for Prosecutor General Kim Osu received approximately 20 million KRW per month as salary for eight months while working at a law firm after stepping down as Vice Minister of Justice last year.

According to the personnel hearing request submitted to the National Assembly on the 9th, Kim received a total of 192 million KRW from September last year to April this year from the law firm Hwahyun as salary. From September to December last year, he received 19 million KRW per month, and from January to April this year, he received 29 million KRW per month. This amount includes taxes and health insurance fees.

After stepping down as Vice Minister of Justice in April last year, Kim worked as an advisory attorney at the law firm Hwahyun starting in September of the same year. It is known that he resigned from the law firm upon being nominated as Prosecutor General on the 3rd.

As concerns arose that he might have received a high consulting fee as a form of preferential treatment for former officials, Kim’s side explained, "It was not just a nominal listing; he signed a formal contract, commuted daily to the law firm, performed duties, and received the salary."

According to Kim’s personnel hearing request, he reported total assets of 1.99 billion KRW including those of himself, his spouse, and two children. The reported assets include an apartment in Bundang under his name valued at 990 million KRW, land in Hongnong-eup, Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do worth 1.71 million KRW, and deposits amounting to 567.18 million KRW. Under his spouse’s name, 186.67 million KRW was reported, and under the names of his eldest son and daughter, 239.77 million KRW and 1.35 million KRW were reported respectively.