Lee Jinsook Posts "Regarding Bread": "Low-Level Political Agitation... Purchased for Staff"

Lee Jinsook Directly Addresses Allegations on Social Media
Claims Card Was Used to Encourage Staff

Lee Jinsook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, has expressed her frustration and offered an explanation regarding allegations that she purchased 1 million won worth of bread with a corporate card just before resigning as president of Daejeon MBC. On the 27th, Chairperson Lee posted a statement titled "Regarding Bread" on Facebook, calling the related suspicions "low-level political agitation."

Lee Jinsook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is attending the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairperson Lee had purchased approximately 440,000 won worth of confectionery near her home in Seoul and about 530,000 won worth in Daejeon with a corporate card on January 8, 2018, the day before she resigned as president of Daejeon MBC. Regarding this, she explained, "At that time, Daejeon MBC was on strike, and I remember buying roll cakes or cookies worth around 50,000 won each for the secretarial staff, janitors, security guards, and drivers who were working hard even during the strike." She added, "Since this happened ten years ago, I could not recall the exact situation during the confirmation hearing, but my aide later contacted me during a break, saying, 'I bought confectionery near your home, but since roll cakes are not usually stocked in large quantities, I purchased the rest in Daejeon.'"

Chairperson Lee further explained that at the time, her aide drove her from Daejeon to her home in Seoul using a company vehicle, bought confectionery with her near her home, was entrusted with the corporate card, and was instructed to deliver both the card and the confectionery to the head of the management department, who then distributed them to those who had worked hard. However, she stated, "I still do not know whether the items purchased were roll cakes, cookies, or both," but emphasized, "I clearly remember purchasing about 40,000 to 50,000 won worth of confectionery per person as gifts." She also said, "The corporate card can be used not only for meetings with business partners or government officials, but also for encouraging staff."

Lee Jinsook: "I am the only one at MBC who has released corporate card records"

Chairperson Lee agreed to disclose her corporate card usage records from her time at MBC last June, in response to a request from Democratic Party lawmakers ahead of her confirmation hearing. She explained, "I agreed to release the records because I had never used the card for personal purposes and had nothing to hide," emphasizing that she is the only person in MBC's 64-year history to voluntarily release corporate card usage records. Chairperson Lee also stated, "Despite these explanations and clarifications, the Democratic Party continued to ridicule me," and claimed, "As a result of the 'work' of some Democratic Party lawmakers, I became known as 'Bread Jinsook.'" She added, "If you want to know the truth and the facts, you should simply wait for the results of the investigation."

Lee Jinsuk, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is attending the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, at the end of July last year, Democratic Party lawmakers filed a police complaint against Chairperson Lee, accusing her of embezzlement, violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and bribery, alleging that she misused the corporate card during her tenure as president of Daejeon MBC. Civil groups such as the National Union of Mediaworkers and the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media also filed a complaint with prosecutors, claiming that there were indications she had used the card for personal purposes at luxury hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues on weekends and holidays. It has been reported that Chairperson Lee has appeared several times at the Yuseong Police Station in Daejeon for questioning regarding these allegations since last month.