"Photo with Kim Daenam, other staff also present"
"Unjust to incite conflict between the Presidential Office and the party"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at an emergency economic and security review meeting on the Middle East situation held on the 2nd at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office stated regarding Kim Dae-nam, the former senior administrative officer of the Presidential Office and the subject of the 'Han Dong-hoon People Power Party leader attack instigation' allegation, that "the President and the First Lady have no acquaintance with Kim Dae-nam" and expressed "regret over the baseless claims and indiscriminate suspicion reports."
On the 3rd, through a notice issued by the spokesperson's office, the Presidential Office explained, "(President Yoon Suk-yeol) took photos with Kim Dae-nam only at year-end parties and staff retirement events along with other employees," clarifying the situation.
According to a recording recently released by the YouTube channel 'Seoul's Voice,' former senior administrative officer Kim said in a phone call ahead of the People Power Party convention in July, "Mrs. Kim Geon-hee is trying to die because of candidate Han Dong-hoon," and "If we plan well this time and hit (candidate Han), the First Lady will be pleased."
In response, Han Ji-a, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party and a close acquaintance, strongly opposed through a statement, saying, "It is a clear and serious act and crime for a party member to collaborate with left-wing YouTubers and instigate attacks to slander politicians of their affiliated party with false information."
Since former senior administrative officer Kim is from the Presidential Office, suspicions arose that Yongsan was involved behind the scenes in instigating attacks against leader Han.
However, a Presidential Office official met with reporters the previous day and denied the allegations, saying, "Former administrative officer Kim is a working-level officer," and "As he himself said, the series of claims are exaggerated and one-sided."
Nevertheless, as controversy spread with the release of photos showing President Yoon and former senior administrative officer Kim together, the Presidential Office issued an additional statement that day, continuing to refute the claims.
The Presidential Office emphasized, "Most of the content in former administrative officer Kim's recording is full of criticism against the President and the First Lady, and only some parts related to the party leader at the last party convention were included," and stated, "it is clear that fomenting conflict between the Presidential Office and the party based on this recording is inappropriate."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
