[News Figures] "If you target Han Dong-hoon, Mrs. Kim will be pleased" Kim Dae-nam's recording stirs controversy

Former Senior Administrative Officer at the Presidential Office Kim Dae-nam has become the center of political controversy regarding a recently released audio recording.

Kim, who served as the head of the organizational bureau for Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign headquarters during the 2022 20th presidential election, held positions as Senior Administrative Officer and Acting Secretary for Citizen Communication at the Presidential Office under the Yoon administration. He resigned last October and declared his candidacy for the 22nd National Assembly election as the People Power Party candidate for Yongin Gap. However, he withdrew his candidacy after former Presidential Office Personnel Secretary Lee Won-mo was strategically nominated, and in early August, he was appointed as a full-time auditor at Seoul Guarantee Insurance, a public enterprise, sparking controversy over parachute appointments.

Kim’s name resurfaced in political circles after 'Seoul Voice' released a YouTube video containing a recorded phone conversation with him.

Seoul Voice disclosed an audio recording in which Kim, ahead of the People Power Party leadership election in July, said, "Attack candidate Han Dong-hoon" and "Mrs. Kim Geon-hee will like it."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This came at a time when the pro-Yoon faction was focusing their efforts on the issue of Han’s 'ignoring Mrs. Kim Geon-hee’s message.' At that time, Mrs. Kim had sent a message to Han, who was then the party’s emergency committee chairman, regarding allegations of receiving luxury handbags, stating that she could apologize to the public or in any manner the emergency committee desired. The core issue was that Han saw the message but did not respond.

In the recording, Kim said, "Mrs. Kim felt personally betrayed," and "If you (Seoul Voice) plan this well and hit (Han Dong-hoon), Mrs. Kim will be very pleased."

The release of this recording has led to allegations that the Presidential Office interfered in the People Power Party’s leadership election, sparking a 'party affairs interference' controversy.

The Democratic Party of Korea condemned the situation as a "desperate regime." On the 1st, floor leader spokesperson Yoon Jong-gun stated in a written briefing, "This is a clear interference in party affairs and a serious threat to democracy," adding, "The shameless interference by the Presidential Office cannot be dismissed as the mere misconduct of a single senior administrative officer. We must uncover who is behind this." He also expressed suspicion regarding Kim’s appointment as a full-time auditor at Seoul Guarantee Insurance, saying, "It is hard not to suspect that he received the auditor position as a reward for his role in interfering in party affairs."

The People Power Party announced disciplinary procedures against Kim. On the 2nd, senior spokesperson Han Ji-a said in a statement, "Kim Dae-nam, a former senior administrative officer at the Presidential Office and current auditor at Seoul Guarantee Insurance, had a recording released of a conversation with a left-wing YouTuber. Kim Dae-nam is a member of the People Power Party," and criticized, "It is a clear and serious violation and crime for a member of a conservative party to collaborate with a left-wing YouTuber to slander party politicians with false information and to instigate attacks." She emphasized, "The party will investigate the facts through necessary procedures and hold those responsible strictly accountable based on the results."