[2025 Audit] Korea Forest Service Audit Turns into Hearing on "Do You Know Kim Hyunji?"

Controversy Over Personnel Request by Commissioner Kim Inho
People Power Party Points to "Cooperative Relationship with Kim Hyunji"
Democratic Party Argues "Public Recommendation System Is a Normal Procedure"

The National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee's audit of the Korea Forest Service devolved into a hearing focused on Kim Hyunji, the Director of the Presidential Secretariat. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether Kim Inho, the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, had made a personnel request to Director Kim.

Lee Manhee, a member of the People Power Party, stated during the audit held at the National Assembly on the 20th, "Although it is claimed that there was only a public connection with Director Kim during the appointment process, my findings indicate otherwise." He argued, "While working together at an organization called Seongnam Agenda 21, they maintained an ongoing cooperative relationship as Secretary-General and Policy Evaluation Committee Chair, and it appears that administrative actions were justified through this relationship."

Kim Inho, the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, is responding to questions from committee members during the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee's audit of the Korea Forest Service on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News.

Jung Heeyong, also a member of the People Power Party, revealed that Commissioner Kim had recommended himself for the position of Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service. Jung asked, "Do you believe you were appointed through a normal procedure?" and questioned, "Who wrote the statement, 'I strongly recommend Professor Kim Inho as Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service to advance the genuine forest policy of President Lee Jaemyung, whom I deeply respect'?" Jung had discovered that Commissioner Kim had nominated himself through the public recruitment system. Commissioner Kim responded, "I wrote it myself," and explained, "I organized it this way to promote myself as a professional."

Lim Mi-ae, a member of the Democratic Party, asked Commissioner Kim, "There is a suspicion that former National Education Commission Chair Lee Baeyong handed a golden turtle to former First Lady Kim Geonha in exchange for an appointment. Did you ever give a golden turtle to the Chief Secretary for General Affairs?" She also asked, "Former prosecutor Kim Sangmin is suspected of giving a painting worth 100 million won to the former First Lady and pressuring for a nomination. Did you ever give an expensive painting?" Commissioner Kim replied, "That never happened," making it clear that there was no monetary exchange involved in his appointment process. Assemblywoman Lim further commented, "There is much discussion about self-recommendation, but can it not be interpreted that someone with expertise who self-recommends is simply confident in their professional abilities?"

Yoon Junbyung, another Democratic Party lawmaker, stated, "Nepotism refers to appointing acquaintances through the existing closed and opaque personnel system," and argued, "To make use of a wide range of talent, the public recommendation system is being operated, and nominating oneself or being nominated by others in this process is a form of practical personnel management." Regarding criticism of self-recommendation, he added, "Would you call submitting a job application self-recommendation? It is a normal procedure to apply, introduce oneself, and make various efforts to be selected."