Minseok Kim Responds to 'Expenditures Exceeding Income' Allegations: "There Were Celebrations and Publication Commemorations"

"Can Account for Asset Issues, No Problem"

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim has addressed allegations that his expenditures exceeded his income over the past five years, explaining that he had sources of income other than his official salary.

On June 20, during an appearance on the Buddhist Broadcasting System radio program "Morning Journal with Taeseop Keum," Kim stated, "During that period, there were celebratory events, a wedding, a funeral, and two publication commemorations. Even just adding those up, the numbers make sense."

He went on to say, "To conclude, I can account for everything. There is no major issue."

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim is answering questions at a foreign press conference held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Members of the People Power Party on the special personnel hearing committee pointed out the previous day, "Kim's official income over the past five years consists solely of his salary, totaling 510 million won. However, his confirmed expenditures amount to at least 1.3 billion won."

Regarding the attempt to call as hearing witnesses those who lent him 10 million won each, Kim said, "I feel so sorry that they are even considering holding a joint press conference, so I am trying to dissuade them," adding, "It is only embarrassing for me that I lacked money; there is nothing wrong with those who lent it to me."

Commenting on Kim's explanation about "income other than salary," People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jinwoo, a member of the special personnel hearing committee, wrote on social media, "He was pressured into revealing that the cash he received from wedding gifts, condolence money for his father-in-law's funeral, and two publication commemorations amounted to several hundred million won. Even excluding the 200 million won in his son's overseas study expenses that remain unaccounted for, the cash he received from celebrations and publication commemorations exceeds at least 600 million won."