[Exclusive] Allegations of Vote-Driven Falsified Residence Registration by Family of Kim Wan-seop, Minister of Environment Nominee, Just Before General Election

Moved address then relocated back to Seoul right after the general election
Candidate Kim's side: "Address change for election campaign purposes"

It has been confirmed that the family of Kim Wan-seop, the nominee for Minister of Environment, moved their residence to the electoral district where Kim ran just before the 22nd general election. Kim's family moved their residence back to Seoul immediately after the election. There are suspicions that this was a disguised move for voting purposes.

Kim Wan-seop, the nominee for the new Minister of Environment, is entering a building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, where the office for the confirmation hearing preparation team has been set up on the morning of the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 21st, Kim's wife and two children changed their address on March 4 this year from an apartment in Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to an apartment in Bangok-dong, Wonju-si, Gangwon Province. Bangok-dong belongs to the Wonju-si Eul electoral district, where Kim ran as a member of the People Power Party in the 22nd general election. After the election, on April 29 this year, Kim's family moved their residence back to the apartment in Irwon-dong.

The same applies to Kim's parents. Kim Young-jin, Kim's father and former governor of Gangwon Province, changed his address on March 5 this year from Gwirae-myeon, Wonju-si, to an apartment in Myeongnyun-dong, Wonju-si. Myeongnyun-dong is part of the Wonju-si Eul district where Kim ran, while Gwirae-myeon belongs to Wonju-si Gap. Kim's mother, Lee Mo, also moved her address on the same day from an apartment in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to the apartment in Myeongnyun-dong. Both Kim's father and mother moved their residence back to the apartment in Cheongdam-dong on April 17, after the election.

According to Article 247 of the Public Official Election Act, if a false report is made regarding resident registration from 180 days before the voter list preparation date to the completion date of the voter list for the purpose of voting in a specific electoral district, the offender may face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 5 million won. The completion date for the voter list for the 22nd general election was March 26 this year. Attorney Jo Ju-tae of the law firm Dongin, a former prosecutor, said, "If the residence was moved without actually living there, it could be considered a disguised move," adding, "Whether the residence was genuine can be investigated through phone location tracking, card usage history, and other means." The National Election Commission stated, "We can only make a judgment after accurately verifying the facts."

It has not been confirmed whether Kim's family actually lived at the addresses in question or whether they voted in the Wonju-si Eul district in the last general election. Kim's side explained, "The family moved their residence to the electoral district together to conduct election campaigning."