"Funds for 'Opposition's Allegations' Originated from Targeted Investigations"
Prime Minister nominee Kim Minseok stated regarding the allegations concerning his assets, which surfaced during his confirmation hearing, "I believe I have paid everything I was supposed to pay and disclosed everything that needed to be disclosed."
On the second day of the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 25th, Kim responded in this way when Oh Ki-hyung, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asked about his thoughts following the previous day's hearing.
The People Power Party, during the previous day's hearing, questioned the source of Kim's funds, claiming that his expenditures exceeded his official salary by approximately 600 million won. In response, Kim cited congratulatory and condolence money, proceeds from a publication event, and financial support from his wife's family as sources of income outside his official salary.
Kim said, "Most of the funds that opposition lawmakers referred to as suspicious originated from targeted investigations against me," and added, "To clarify this issue, I hoped that the companies and prosecutors who provided the funds at the time would be called as witnesses, but unfortunately, they were not selected."
He continued, "After the hearing began, it was revealed that the 'Ugeomhoe,' a group within the prosecution that included Yoon Suk-yeol, was involved, which I view as fortunate," and added, "Over the past 20 years, all kinds of income have been used to pay fines resulting from targeted investigations, gift taxes related to those fines, and to repay private debts incurred to cover these costs."
He further explained, "I repaid the fines using both my official salary and income outside of it, settled the gift taxes by incurring private debts, and repaid those private debts through loans," adding, "I borrowed money from acquaintances in a very transparent manner and have repaid all of it."
Kim also voiced strong criticism toward the opposition party for raising suspicions about the source of his funds. He said, "It is obvious to anyone that, based on the disclosed materials alone, it is impossible to believe that I could have saved 600 million won in a year and kept it in a wardrobe, yet some people continue to frame this as a 'second rice paddy watch' incident and keep making accusations."
He added, "I am willing to provide unlimited proof where unlimited proof is required, but at the very least, there should be acknowledgment of the parts that have already been explained," and continued, "Yesterday, I had no choice but to use the term 'fabrication,' and I have yet to find a more fitting expression."
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