Minseok Kim: "All Additional Charges for Political Funds Act Violation Paid... Private Debt Also Fully Repaid"

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim, ahead of his confirmation hearing, clarified that he has fully paid all fines, taxes, and additional charges related to the controversy over his alleged violation of the Political Funds Act.

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim is speaking at a listening meeting to stabilize meal prices held at the hearing preparation office set up at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on June 13, 2025. Photo by Yongjun Cho

On June 13, Kim stated on his Facebook page, "I sincerely apologize for my past violation of the Political Funds Act," and added, "I have fully paid all related fines, taxes, and additional charges over an extended period."

He said, "The case involving the violation of the Political Funds Act was largely a politically targeted investigation," and added, "This was also taken into consideration during the party's nomination process." He further stated, "I am willing to have all relevant parties, including prosecutors, called as witnesses."

There are also allegations that Kim borrowed 40 million won from politician Kang, who previously provided him with illegal political funds, and has not repaid it to this day, as well as suspicions that a portion of the unpaid additional charges, amounting to hundreds of millions of won, was paid by Kang on Kim's behalf. Kang is known to be one of the three individuals who provided illegal political funds to Kim in the 2008 case.

Regarding the suspicions of financial transactions with Kang, Kim explained, "There was a private debt," and added, "The money was used to pay progressive taxes, and the repayment deadline was extended because I prioritized repaying public debts such as fines, taxes, and additional charges." He emphasized, "I have since taken out a loan and repaid the full amount."

In addition, there are suspicions that Kim's son introduced a bill in the National Assembly that he had drafted as part of a high school club activity, and that a nonprofit organization founded by his son held a seminar in collaboration with his parliamentary office.

Regarding the controversy involving his son, Kim stated, "My son did not use his legislative activities related to plagiarism prevention, which were reported in the media, as part of his college application," and added, "He followed my advice that it would be better not to include those activities in his application."

He continued, "I was a co-sponsor of the plagiarism prevention bill introduced by a fellow lawmaker," and added, "I supported it because I believed it was a necessary law."