Moon Jinseok Requests Personnel Favor from Secretary Kim Namguk
Kim Namguk: "I'll Recommend It to Hunsik and Hyunji"
People Power Party: "Proof of 'All Things Hyunji Republic'... Special Prosecutor Needed"
The People Power Party criticized the recent revelation that Moon Jinseok, Deputy Floor Leader for Operations of the Democratic Party of Korea, sent a text message to Kim Namguk, Secretary for Digital Communication at the Presidential Office, requesting a personnel favor. The party stated, "This personnel solicitation proves that Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Presidential Office, is the 'real power behind the throne' at the Blue House."
Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Presidential Office, is listening attentively to President Lee Jae-myung's remarks at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News
Park Sunghoon, Chief Spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement on the morning of December 3, "Yesterday, it was revealed to the entire nation that an unidentified close associate is manipulating state affairs and controlling the personnel system at the Presidential Office," expressing the party's position.
Previously, Deputy Floor Leader Moon was caught by media cameras in the National Assembly plenary chamber sending a text message to Secretary Kim, asking him to recommend a specific individual from their alma mater for the position of President of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. Secretary Kim was seen replying, "I'll recommend it to Hunsik and Hyunji," referring to other officials.
Chief Spokesperson Park emphasized, "The mere fact that both Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik, who is the chair of the personnel committee, and Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Presidential Office, who does not have any official personnel authority, were mentioned together makes it clear who actually wields personnel power in the Presidential Office."
He continued, "This incident vividly demonstrates why there is ridicule across government circles that 'everything goes through Kim Hyunji,' with phrases like 'All Things Hyunji, Republic of Hyunji.' Chief of Staff Kang stated during last month's National Assembly Steering Committee audit that he 'completely disagrees with the claim that a specific individual controls personnel affairs' and emphasized that personnel management is conducted transparently. However, this single text message clearly proves that his statement was not true."
Chief Spokesperson Park further pointed out, "The abuse of personnel authority at the Presidential Office was already underway, and at the center of it was Kim Hyunji, a close aide and power ally of President Lee Jaemyung, reigning as the 'real power behind the throne' at the Blue House." He added, "This incident clearly demonstrates the power structure behind the scenes, explaining why the Democratic Party so vehemently blocked Kim Hyunji from appearing at the National Assembly audit."
He continued, "The fact that Chief Kim Hyunji is able to control not only presidential appointments but also the presidency of private associations is a clear case of personal solicitation and an abuse of authority, constituting a criminal act.This incident is not a case of individual misconduct but decisive evidence that the personnel system at the Presidential Office has already become privatized. This is a grave case of state affairs manipulation, witnessed by the entire nation, and requires an immediate special prosecutor investigation."
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