Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Nominee Kwon Oeul Faces Controversy Over Unpaid 274 Million Won Election Expenses

Unpaid for Three Years Despite Supreme Court Ruling
Lee Yangsoo Says, "Taxpayers' Money Not Recovered"

Kwon Oeul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, has still not repaid the 274 million won in election expenses that he was ordered to return for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 2018 local elections.

Kwon Oeul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, is answering questions from reporters as he arrives for his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at Seoul Square in Jung-gu, Seoul on June 25, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

On June 28, Lee Yangsoo, a member of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee from the People Power Party, stated, based on confirmation hearing materials submitted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, "Nominee Kwon received an order from the Gyeongbuk Election Commission in May 2021 to return the election reimbursement, but he has not paid any of it to date."

Kwon Oeul ran for governor of North Gyeongsang Province as a member of the Bareunmirae Party in the 2018 local elections but was defeated. He was later prosecuted for giving money to a person who was not registered as an election campaign worker. In 2021, the Supreme Court finalized a sentence of 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. Despite the Public Official Election Act requiring full repayment within 30 days from the date the reason for the return arises, Kwon has failed to comply for more than three years.

Lee Yangsoo pointed out, "It is a serious issue that he has not returned the election reimbursement, which was paid with taxpayers' money, even after a final court ruling," and added, "This raises questions about his morality and sense of responsibility as a ministerial nominee."