In July 2019, then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol entering the Blue House to receive his appointment certificate from President Moon Jae-in. On the right is his wife, Kim Keon-hee. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Regarding the suspicion that Kim Gunhee, wife of People Power Party presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol, falsified her career history when applying for a university lecturer position, Yoon's side claimed it was a 'simple mistake' of writing a similar university name incorrectly and demanded an apology from the media outlet that first reported the issue.
According to the office of Kang Minjung, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Open Democratic Party, Kim submitted a resume in 2004 applying for a lecturer position in the Industrial Design Department at Seoil University. At that time, Kim wrote on her resume that she had lectured at 'Hallym University.'
However, when Kang's office requested confirmation from the Ministry of Education regarding Kim's lecturing history at Hallym University, Hallym University responded that Kim had 'no employment history' there. Based on this, Kang raised suspicions that Kim falsified her career history on the resume.
Career certificate related to lectures at Hallym Sacred Heart University by Kim Geon-hee, wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol / Photo by Yuseok-yeol, National Campaign Legal Team Facebook
In response, Yoon's side denied the allegations, stating that the incorrect university name on the resume was a 'simple mistake.' They also called the reports of 'false career history' a "clear false report" and stated that if the original reporting media does not apologize, they will take legal action.
A representative from Yoon's camp told a media outlet that day, "Writing the wrong university name was a simple mistake," and questioned, "Is there any reason to intentionally falsify career history when submitting a certificate of career?"
The legal team of Yoon Seokyeol's national campaign also posted on Facebook, "Kim Gunhee has never used 'false career certificates' during her time as a part-time lecturer or in other lecturing roles," adding, "Since proof documents must be submitted in addition to the resume, it is practically impossible to use false career history unless the 'career certificate' itself is forged."
The legal team further explained, "The university referred to as H University in the article is Hallym Sacred Heart University. Kim Gunhee taught courses such as Color Expression Techniques, Introduction to Design, and Graphic Practice I & II for five semesters from March 2, 2001, to August 22, 2004," and released the related career certificate.
They added, "Since there is no use of false career history while working as a part-time lecturer at Seoil University, we hope the media outlet will retract the article and apologize," warning, "If appropriate follow-up actions are not taken, we will have no choice but to hold them legally accountable."
However, Kang's office maintains that even if it was a mistake, the incorrect entry is still problematic.
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