Following Kim Geon-hee's Apology... Yoon Seok-yeol's Side Actively Addresses Related Allegations

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee, CEO of Cobana Contents, are making a public apology on the 26th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding allegations of false credentials. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the afternoon of the 26th, Kim Gun-hee, CEO of Cobana Contents and spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, issued a public apology regarding controversies over her false resume. Following this, Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign committee released a separate fact-check document to clarify various allegations.

The campaign committee distributed a document titled "Explanation Regarding CEO Kim Gun-hee’s Allegations" to the media on the same day. The document categorized the related allegations into nine items, including her application for a lecturer position at Suwon Women’s University, her training at New York University (NYU), and her exhibition history at Samsung Plaza.

While acknowledging that some experiences were exaggerated or inaccurately recorded, the committee emphasized that the career itself was not fabricated. Specifically, among 11 allegations, they admitted to seven by using expressions such as "exaggerated entry," "misleading notation was wrong and regrettable," and "inappropriate," showing contrition.

Regarding Suwon Women’s University Application Allegation: "Not False... But Exaggerated"

First, the campaign committee drew a line stating that the career details listed on Kim’s 2007 resume submitted for the Suwon Women’s University lecturer position were not false. At that time, Kim had listed on her resume ▲March 1, 2002 ? March 31, 2005: Planning Director of the Planning Team at Korea Game Industry Association ▲December 2, 2003 ? December 12, 2006: Director of Strategic Planning Team at H Culture Technology ▲1998?2002: Curator at Alternative Space Loop, among other experiences.

In response to criticism that the Game Industry Association was only established in June 2004, the committee argued, "the association was formed by merging several related game organizations," and that "(Kim) was active early on based on recommendations from game industry insiders even before the official establishment date." However, they added, "It is difficult to find evidence of specific activities or periods due to the passage of over 20 years."

Nonetheless, the committee partially admitted to related allegations, stating "It was wrong to list this as a plausible career on the resume despite it being an unpaid, part-time position without regular activities," and "The title of Planning Director could be confused with registered or outside director positions."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee, CEO of Kobana Contents, are making a public apology on the 26th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding allegations of false credentials. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Regarding her work history at H Culture Technology, the committee explained that Kim worked alongside the CEO from the planning stage before the company’s establishment and officially joined after its founding, continuing her employment.

As for her experience at Alternative Space Loop, they said she was indeed active but errors occurred due to relying on memory for the employment period. However, they added that there are no materials to verify the exact period.

The committee emphasized that these false career allegations were "not false but overall the employment periods were inaccurately and exaggeratedly recorded," and stressed that the employment certificates stamped by each institution were not forged.

NYU Training Was a "Short-Term Program"... Samsung Museum-Related Entry Was "Incorrect"

Regarding the false allegation about Kim’s training at NYU, the committee explained that "she attended a six-month course at Seoul National University’s GLA (Global Leader Association), which included an overseas training program." The Suwon Women’s University application had a section for training achievements where the program was accurately listed, and "it is clear from the record that it was a short-term training of less than one month." The Anyang University resume lacked a separate training section, so the program name and the fact of training were noted in the education section.

Regarding the award for the 'Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Awards,' the committee explained, "It was copied directly from the company’s award record, and it should have been clearly noted as a group award, which we regret." However, they attached supporting documents, stating, "The database 'Araris' confirms records of participation in planning under the name Kim Myung-shin (Kim’s former name)."

Regarding the Samsung Museum-related allegations, they admitted to inaccurate entries and explained, "There was no intention to exaggerate exhibition experience, but it was a mistake." The committee stated, "Kim did participate in the 'Humanscape.com' exhibition at Samsung Plaza Gallery in 2003," and explained that the entry "2003 portrait Samsung Museum planning" was a tentative exhibition name used during the planning stage and was "inappropriate." They added, "At that time, there was no Samsung Museum, and Hoam Gallery was well-known," and "there was no intention to exaggerate exhibition experience, but calling Samsung Plaza Gallery the 'Samsung Museum' was a mistake."

School Employment History Was "Inaccurately Recorded"... Seoul National University Graduate School History Was "Misleadingly Noted"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee, CEO of Kobana Contents, are making a public apology on the 26th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding allegations of false credentials. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Regarding her practical instructor position at Seoul Daedo Elementary School, the committee stated, "There are no supporting documents for anyone, including Kim," and claimed, "She did work there, but it was 24 years ago, so no records remain." They also admitted, "The 2001 Hallym Sacred Heart University resume noted 'Gwangnam Middle School student teaching practice,' but the 2004 Seoil University resume inaccurately stated 'Gwangnam Middle School employment.'” They also acknowledged errors in recording her work history at Youngnak High School and Youngnak Girls’ High School.

Regarding Kim’s Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Business, the committee apologized for the misleading notation of "Master’s degree from Seoul National University Graduate School of Business" (2013 Anyang University) or "Master’s degree in Business Administration from Seoul National University" (2014 Kookmin University). They explained, "(Kim) was not familiar with the precise academic terminology or system and wrote 'Graduate School of Business' as commonly referred to," and "It was wrong and regrettable to use a notation that could be mistaken for a general graduate school."

'Julie' Allegation Strongly Denied as "False Propaganda"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

While repeatedly bowing in apology over the false resume controversy, the campaign committee strongly rebutted the so-called 'Julie allegation' that Kim worked as a hostess at entertainment establishments in the past. They harshly criticized the ruling party-leaning YouTube channel 'Open Sympathy TV,' which raised the allegation, calling it "absurd false propaganda completely contrary to objective facts" and warned, "It will be difficult to avoid legal punishment."

Open Sympathy TV recently released testimony from a whistleblower named Ahn, claiming that in May 1997, Kim, who used the stage name 'Julie,' provided entertainment services. The campaign committee emphasized, "At that time, Kim was enrolled in the Graduate School of Education at Sookmyung Women’s University, attending evening classes from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM," and "She commuted by driving herself over an hour from her home in Namyangju to the school in Yongsan-gu."

The committee also rebutted, "Ahn made absurd claims that he met Lee Jae-myung as a boy 44 years ago, but these contradict the candidate’s autobiography and are full of inconsistencies." They added, "Ahn said the factory Lee attended in 1977?1978 was 'Orient,' but the factories Lee actually worked at were 'Aju Frozen' and 'Daeyang Industry.'"