Suspicions of Violating the Public Officials Ethics Act...
"Calls for Voluntary Resignation"
The People Power Party has launched a full-scale offensive by raising new suspicions regarding Prime Minister nominee Kim Minseok's asset disclosure and his child's school admission issues.
Joo Jinwoo, a member of the National Assembly's Personnel Hearing Special Committee, stated on social media on June 20 that Kim had received cash worth billions of won through congratulatory and condolence events and book publication celebrations, but failed to report these assets. Joo argued that this constitutes a violation of the Public Officials Ethics Act and the Public Official Election Act, and called for Kim's voluntary resignation.
Joo pointed out, "Even excluding the 200 million won in study abroad expenses for his son, which has not yet been explained, the cash received from congratulatory events and publication celebrations exceeds at least 600 million won." He added, "This means he has been keeping the cash at home, spending it as needed, and omitting it from his asset disclosures each year."
He also quoted Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Hojoong, who said, "A false asset disclosure by a public office candidate is a serious crime that warrants immediate resignation and investigation, as it is grounds for invalidating the election."
Other People Power Party members of the Personnel Hearing Special Committee also held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, raising suspicions about the process by which Kim's son was admitted to a special-purpose high school.
According to the committee members, Kim's ex-wife was appointed as a non-executive director of the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and during that period, Kim's son moved to Jeju and entered middle school there. They argued that this was done to meet the eligibility requirements for Cheongshim International High School in Gyeonggi Province, suggesting that the admission was prearranged.
They also pointed out that the JDC president at the time had previously worked in the presidential office under the Moon Jaein administration, and that Kim was a highly influential figure in both the National Assembly and the party. They stated, "We want to ask whether there was any political interference in a national public institution."
The People Power Party continued its offensive by holding an emergency protest under the banner of the 'Emergency Condemnation Rally on Personnel Hearings for the Lee Jaemyung Administration, a Department Store of Corruption.' They sharply criticized Kim, calling him a 'comprehensive gift set of suspicions,' a 'sponsor-driven life,' and the 'second Cho Kuk.'
Floor leader Song Eonseok said, "Kim's life is riddled with collusion with sponsors and suspicions of illegal funds," and added, "Now, not only the president but also the prime minister are people with criminal records, making ex-convicts the nation's top leaders."
Interim leader Kim Yongtae also remarked, "At this point, Kim is not a prime minister nominee but a comprehensive gift set of suspicions," warning, "If the appointment is pushed through as is, it will mark the starting point of the collapse not just of Kim as an individual, but of this entire administration."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
