PPP Raises Allegations of Military Service Privileges for Lee Hyehoon's Sons... Lee's Side Denies Any Wrongdoing

On January 11, the People Power Party continued its offensive against Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, by raising additional allegations of military service privileges for her sons.

Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, who won the subscription for an apartment in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, where the price ceiling system was applied and gained a minimum market price difference of over 3.5 billion won, is arriving at the confirmation hearing office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Park Sooyoung, a member of the People Power Party, stated on Facebook that both the nominee's second and third sons served as public service workers at institutions very close to their home, and that both sons were the first public service workers ever assigned to those institutions, raising suspicions of preferential treatment in their military service.

Park pointed out that the nominee's second son (age 33) "served as a public service worker at a local children's center in Seocho-gu, 7 kilometers from home, for two years starting in March 2014," and added, "According to data from the Military Manpower Administration, that center began accepting public service workers for the first time in 2014, the year the nominee's second son started working there. This means he was the first public service worker at that center near their home."

Regarding the nominee's third son (age 29), Park said, "He served at the Bangbae Police Station from January 2019 to December 2020, living as a public service worker just 2.5 kilometers from home, essentially working at a location very close to their residence." Park added, "According to the Military Manpower Administration's records from the past 10 years, Bangbae Police Station accepted public service workers for only three years, from 2019 to 2021, starting the very year the nominee's third son began his service."

Park stated, "The nominee has not provided any explanation or evidence as to why both sons served as public service workers, what duties they performed, or any supporting documentation." He continued, "She should either voluntarily withdraw her nomination, or, if the allegations are not true, fully disclose all military service-related documents for her sons and clarify the suspicions to the public."

The nominee's side responded to the media, stating, "Including the eldest son's active-duty service, all three sons have faithfully fulfilled their military obligations, and there has been no illegal or improper conduct whatsoever." They added, "In particular, the eldest and second sons renounced their U.S. citizenship and completed their military service."

Chief Spokesperson Choi specifically criticized that when the nominee's eldest son (age 35) applied for a position at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), a national research institute, the thesis he submitted listed the nominee's spouse as a co-author, raising suspicions that he benefited from so-called 'parental privilege.'

Previously, according to data submitted by KIEP to Assemblyman Chun Haram of the Reform New Party, the nominee's eldest son included in his resume a thesis for which his father, Professor Kim Youngse of Yonsei University's Department of Economics, was listed as the corresponding author when he applied for an associate research fellow position in October 2022. At that time, both the president and vice president of KIEP were known to be alumni of Seoul National University's Department of Economics, along with the nominee, raising concerns that they may have been aware the applicant was the son of the nominee and Professor Kim.

Chief Spokesperson Choi stated, "The nominee is the epitome of unfitness for public office," and added, "The presidential office should not delay but instead clearly state its position before the public."