[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun pointed out that there was "probably another reason" regarding the fact that Kwak Sang-do, a member of the People Power Party, received 5 billion won from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), a fund manager at the center of the so-called 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment suspicion,' under the name of industrial accident consolation money and other reasons.
Earlier on the 26th, Hwacheon Daeyu stated in interviews with media outlets such as SBS, "It is the retirement pay of 500 million won that was originally promised plus the industrial accident consolation money." On the same day, Kwak's son, Mr. Kwak, released a statement saying, "The money was received in recognition of the contribution to preventing the company from falling into a crisis, consolation for health deterioration due to overwork, and the merit of working for seven years," explaining, "I worked hard, was recognized, got sick, and earned a lot of money."
In response, on the 27th, Kim said on his tbs radio show 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' "Regarding the payment of 5 billion won as retirement pay to a single deputy, Hwacheon Daeyu explained that it was industrial accident consolation money for Kwak's son experiencing tinnitus and dizziness. In reality, even industrial accident death compensation rarely reaches 500 million won, yet they gave 5 billion won because of dizziness."
He continued, "Moreover, Hwacheon Daeyu received dividends in the range of 50 billion won, and they gave nearly one-tenth of that amount. I don't believe they gave that amount temporarily for such a reason. I think there must be another reason. This is Kim Eo-jun's speculation," he asserted.
Kim sarcastically remarked, "Are you saying he was dizzy from overwork during five years of work? Even so, if they give 5 billion won, then I, having worked on 'News Factory' for five years, coming out early in the morning hungry and eating four meals a day, gaining weight and having high blood pressure, should get 4.5 billion won too."
He added, "Receiving 5 billion won in industrial accident consolation money due to tinnitus and dizziness would be the first case in South Korean history. Not only I but others also suspect there is another reason, and I think that suspicion is reasonable because it is an unprecedented case."
Kim suggested that some sort of deal might have taken place between Kwak and Hwacheon Daeyu. He said, "We need to look at what happened around 2015. When Kwak was a prosecutor, he was not particularly well-known, but during the Park Geun-hye administration, he became the first Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. At that time, people asked, 'Who is this person?'" He continued, "Later, when he was chairman of the Korea Legal Aid Corporation, around that time, we need to examine whether Kwak or his associates had something only he could do from that perspective. There is no free lunch in this world. I am also investigating."
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