People Power Party Aides Association: "Lee Hyehoon Repeatedly Engaged in Verbal Abuse and Personal Insults... Must Be Permanently Expelled from Politics"

Minister Nominee Lee Hyehoon Faces Past Abuse Allegations
To Intern: "Is Your IQ in the Single Digits?" "I Wish I Could Kill You"
"Sincere Apology"...Aides Call Behavior "Appalling Abuse of Power"

Amid controversy over allegations that Lee Hyehoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, verbally abused an intern staff member during her time as a lawmaker, the People Power Party Parliamentary Aides Association asserted that she should be "permanently expelled from politics." In a statement on the 1st, the association said, "A recording has been released of nominee Lee repeatedly making unspeakable verbal abuse and personal insults," adding, "Following the revelations about former Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Kang Sunwoo, we are deeply appalled by yet another instance of nominee Lee's abuse of power."

Lee Hyehoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, is seen arriving at the hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 29th of last month, expressing his position. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

They continued, "We cannot even begin to imagine the fear and humiliation the victim must have felt, not to mention the anguish of the victim's family who listened to the recording," and called for Lee's resignation. "She is unfit not only to serve as a minister, but should be permanently expelled from South Korean politics," they stated.

Previously, TV Chosun released an audio recording on the 31st in which nominee Lee, during her tenure as a lawmaker, can be heard shouting and verbally abusing intern staff member A. The recording, from 2017 when Lee was a member of the Bareun Party, captures her berating A for failing to report a news article that mentioned her name. At the time, Lee said to A, "How many more times do I have to tell you? Do you not understand Korean? Does that make sense in your head? Is your IQ in the single digits?"

When A tried to explain, saying, "(Assemblywoman, I thought I didn't need to report articles that only mentioned your name...)," Lee reportedly shouted, "Hey!" and continued her verbal abuse for about three minutes. She also said, "I really wish I could kill you," and "Do you just say whatever you want with that mouth of yours?" According to reports, A resigned from the lawmaker's office about two weeks after the call.

A explained the reason for releasing the eight-year-old recording, stating, "I believe the way one treats subordinates and basic courtesy toward others are important criteria for evaluating high-ranking public officials." Lee's side responded, "We sincerely apologize and deeply regret that the staff member was deeply hurt during the work process," adding, "We offer our apology without any excuse."

The Parliamentary Aides Association stated, "Parliamentary aides have always been the vulnerable party, whether it was Assemblyman Lee Choonseok borrowing aides' stock accounts for his personal gain, Assemblywoman Kang Sunwoo making aides repair toilets and collect nomination donations, Assemblyman Jang Kyungtae committing sexual harassment against aides without remorse, Assemblyman Kim Byungki not only abusing his aides but also interfering with their employment, and now nominee Lee Hyehoon. Regardless of party affiliation, as colleagues sharing the same workplace, we feel a heavy sense of responsibility for not supporting each other and, at times, remaining silent."

They also urged Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly and a former parliamentary aide himself, "Speaker Woo, who understands the gravity of this issue better than anyone, should take the lead in establishing preventive measures and improving the treatment of aides to eradicate abuse of power in the National Assembly."

Meanwhile, following the release of the audio recording of the verbal abuse, the People Power Party has begun efforts to block Lee's appointment. It is reported that the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee is gathering allegations and tips in preparation for a thorough vetting at the confirmation hearing.