Yoo In-tae: "Kim Byung-ki Fired Aides and Blocked Their Jobs... Lee Hye-hoon Seems to Be Stepping Down After Ruining Herself"

Yoo Intae Criticizes Controversies Involving Kim Byungki and Lee Hyehoon
"Kim Should Reflect on His Own Actions Instead of Calling It Cruel"
"Lee Should Have Resigned Earlier... Ruined by Greed"

Yoo In-tae, a senior figure of the Democratic Party and former Secretary General of the National Assembly, harshly criticized the controversies involving former Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki and Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget. In an interview on CBS Radio's 'Park Sungtae's News Show' on the 15th, Yoo commented on Kim's reaction to his expulsion by the party's Ethics Tribunal, who said, "Did it really have to be this cruel?" Yoo responded, "I don't know what's so cruel about it. He doesn't seem to reflect on what he himself did."

Yoo In-tae, a senior figure of the Democratic Party, harshly criticized controversies involving Kim Byung-ki, former floor leader of the Democratic Party, and Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

Yoo continued, "Most lawmakers are hoping he will voluntarily leave the party, saying, 'If you prove your innocence as you claim, you can always rejoin.' I don't understand what he's so afraid of, acting like this alone." Regarding the party's response, Yoo said, "Since he even recorded his conversation with Assemblywoman Kang Sunwoo, lawmakers will probably avoid talking to him in the future. He's someone who records everything."

Regarding the allegations of mistreatment of aides, Yoo said, "In politics, many people ruin their careers by choosing the wrong aides or falling out with them. In this case, Kim Byung-ki boldly fired all his aides and even went so far as to interfere with their future employment, preventing them from getting new jobs. All of this is now coming to light."

Kim Byung-ki is reportedly facing police complaints related to 12 separate allegations. These include suspicions of nomination fund misconduct, alleged involvement in his second son's transfer to Soongsil University, suspicions of his spouse's misuse of business expenses at Dongjak District Council, allegations of receiving hotel vouchers and demanding protocol from Korean Air, and suspicions regarding a luncheon with Coupang, among others. On the 14th, the police conducted searches at six locations, including Kim's residence, and have begun a full-scale investigation into the various allegations.

Meanwhile, Yoo also commented on Lee Hye-hoon, saying, "I used to think highly of her for being polite and personable, but I was shocked by the recorded conversation with a vulnerable person, an intern. This story is already widely known among female lawmakers and those close to her. If she had any sense, she would resign quickly instead of staying and damaging her reputation further until the very end."

Yoo concluded, "Resigning earlier would have been the answer. When blinded by greed, people try to cling to the last straw, but they end up completely ruined and achieve nothing. If she had stepped down sooner, she could have saved herself from such damage, but greed has destroyed everything." He added, "President Lee Jaemyung, as the person in charge of appointments, made the selection with a spirit of unity, but now it's difficult to withdraw the nomination, so the position is to at least proceed to the confirmation hearing. Ultimately, public opinion will decide the outcome. In the end, how can the nomination be finalized? With the prevailing sentiment among many Democratic Party lawmakers that 'the wrong person was chosen,' it will be difficult to push through with the appointment."