Kim Hye-kyung Corporate Card Allegation Whistleblower: "I Didn't Know It Was Wrong... I Feel Like Giving Up Life Due to Secondary Harm"

Whistleblower A Shares Phone Interview on YouTube Live... Confession of Feelings After Reporting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A former Grade 7 special secretary A from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Secretariat, who raised suspicions of 'private use of corporate cards' by Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of former Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, appeared on a YouTube live broadcast to share her feelings after the report.

The whistleblower A appeared on the YouTube channel 'Back Briefing' at 9 p.m. on the 4th and said, "It was a continuous moment when I wanted to give up on life due to secondary harm," and declared a strong response to malicious comments. During the broadcast, A participated in a phone interview without showing her face and spoke in an unaltered voice.

A explained the reason for raising the suspicion of private use of corporate cards, saying, "I made a public interest report for the public's right to know before voting." She added, "When I was working at the provincial office, I didn't even realize that what I was doing was wrong, but after losing my job and watching the news, I realized it was illegal," and said, "I thought a person who lies should not become president."

When asked if she was unaware of the illegality while working, A said, "When I first started working at the provincial office, what I heard from Bae was to provide protocol services for then-Governor Lee Jae-myung and Kim Hye-kyung," and added, "Before that, when I was in Seongnam City, I repeatedly witnessed Bae performing protocol duties for Kim Hye-kyung."

Regarding the police raid on the Gyeonggi Provincial Government related to Kim Hye-kyung's 'corporate card misuse suspicion' on the 4th, A said, "As one of the people (not the party involved), I was watching," and stated, "I believe a person who lies should not become the president of the Republic of Korea." When asked if she would participate in the investigation as a reference, she replied, "I am preparing for it."

When asked if she had any message for other whistleblowers, she answered, "Honestly, I want to discourage them. I think it is a continuous series of endless pain. However, if these issues improve because of me, I hope it becomes a country where public interest whistleblowers can live well."

Earlier, A first raised suspicions of corporate card misuse by Kim Hye-kyung in February. A claimed that from April to October last year, she paid with her own card at seven restaurants including a baeksuk specialty restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and a sushi restaurant in Seongnam and Suwon, and then delivered the purchased food to Kim's residence.

In response, former presidential candidate Lee apologized, saying, "I am sorry to the public," and Kim also held a press conference, stating, "It is all my fault and the result of my shortcomings," and expressed her intention to take responsibility even after the presidential election.