Minister of Health and Welfare Nominee Suspected of 'Political Funds Act Violation', Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Investigates

Kim Seung-hee, Minister of Health and Welfare Nominee [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office is investigating allegations that Kim Seung-hee, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, violated the Political Funds Act.

According to the legal community on the 30th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office transferred the case concerning Kim's alleged violation of the Political Funds Act, which was referred for investigation by the National Election Commission, to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, disclosed the National Election Commission's referral for investigation the day before and stated, "Since the suspect of a crime should not be appointed as the head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which manages a budget of about 100 trillion won, we immediately request voluntary resignation or withdrawal of the appointment."

Kim, a former head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is suspected of using her political funds to provide encouragement money to her aides and donations to fellow party lawmakers during her time as a member of the 20th National Assembly. There are also allegations that she purchased a rental car after repainting it with political funds and used legislative policy development expenses for opinion polls.

On the 23rd, President Yoon Seok-yeol requested the National Assembly to resubmit the personnel hearing report on Kim and others. Although the deadline for resubmission ended the day before, making appointment possible from today, strong opposition from the opposition parties remains.