Raising Suspicion Over President and Hyunji Kim's Relationship
Another Offensive Remark Following Insults to Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families
Democratic Party Issues Statement Calling for Legal Action and Resignation
Mina Kim, a member of the Changwon City Council in Gyeongsangnam-do from the People Power Party, who previously faced calls to resign after posting controversial remarks about the Itaewon disaster on social media, has once again sparked controversy with another post on social media. On October 8, Councilor Kim posted on her account on Threads, a social media platform, about Hyunji Kim, Deputy Director of the Presidential Secretariat.
In her post, Councilor Kim stated, "Doesn't it seem like Hyunji Kim and [the President] are in some sort of economic community? Otherwise, how could such a special economic relationship last for decades? For example, unless they share a child?" The post quickly spread across online communities and social media, prompting criticism from users who accused Kim of "defamation" and "spreading conspiracy theories and fake news." Additional criticism followed, pointing out that, as a public figure, it was inappropriate for her to make such remarks-especially after she was recently ordered to pay damages in the first trial for making offensive comments about the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster victims.
The post has since been deleted. In a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency on October 10, Councilor Kim explained, "I haven't been on Threads for long, and the post was deleted not intentionally, but while I was editing various expressions and questions after the initial posting." When asked about the criticism that her remarks were inappropriate for a public official, she briefly replied, "There have been various news reports about Deputy Director Kim."
Han Junho: "Rumors you would only hear in the marketplace... The party will file a complaint"
The ruling party immediately pushed back against Councilor Mina Kim's remarks. The Gyeongsangnam-do branch of the Democratic Party of Korea issued a statement demanding her resignation. The Democratic Party noted, "The court determined that Councilor Kim's remarks regarding the Itaewon disaster infringed upon the victims' rights and constituted insulting personal attacks." The party added, "Despite these social and legal warnings, Councilor Kim has repeatedly made outrageous statements, placing herself at the center of controversy." The statement continued, "Constantly spreading offensive remarks and conspiracy theories is an act of neglecting her duties as a council member," and urged, "The leadership of the People Power Party must take firm action against such irresponsible behavior by its members and fulfill its responsibilities as a major political party."
Han Junho, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at a Supreme Council meeting on October 10, "We will hold Councilor Mina Kim of Changwon City accountable for her outrageous remarks posted and then deleted on social media." Han further criticized, "She blatantly wrote rumors you would only hear in the marketplace. As the saying goes, 'You see what you want to see.' How can someone live with such garbage-like delusions and not feel any shame when making such comments?"
He continued, "It has only been a month since she was ordered to pay 140 million won in damages on September 10 for making offensive remarks about the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster, calling them 'people profiting from the dead.' Yet she has not been able to break that vile habit and has posted such comments again. Shouldn't someone like this be permanently barred from politics?" Han further stated, "Through measures such as the Democratic Police Box, we need to fundamentally block fake news and root out those who spread rumors. The party will take strong action, including filing a complaint against Councilor Kim."
On May 14th, in front of the west gate of the Seoul Central District Court, bereaved families held placards at a press conference filing a lawsuit for damages against Mina Kim, a Changwon City council member, who was the secondary perpetrator of the October 29 Itaewon disaster. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Previously, in December 2022, Councilor Kim posted offensive remarks about the Itaewon disaster victims and their families on her social media, leading to repeated calls for her resignation from inside and outside the local community. Last month, she was ordered to pay damages in the first trial but has appealed the decision. In the first and second trials of her criminal case on charges of insult, she received a three-month suspended sentence, which has been finalized. Additionally, after the December 3 Martial Law, she participated in rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, drawing criticism for "defending unconstitutional martial law."
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