Kim Min-seok Prime Minister Candidate, Embarrassing Reaction to Past Suit Model Photo Becomes a Hot Topic
An unexpected scene involving Kim Min-seok, the Prime Minister candidate of South Korea, is garnering attention online during his confirmation hearing.
When a suit model photo taken by Kim in 1999 was displayed on the monitor in the hearing room, he was captured trying to hold back laughter while squeezing his eyes shut.
During the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 24th, Cha Hyun-il, a member of the Democratic Party, mentioned Kim's past as an advertising model.
Representative Cha stated, "In 1999, Kim had quite an unconventional role as a suit model. He reportedly received 200 million won as a modeling fee at that time, which he donated entirely to support children in poverty and tuberculosis relief in North Korea." He asked for a detailed explanation.
This was seen as a strategy to defend Kim's reputation as a "clean politician," in light of suspicions raised by the People Power Party regarding the formation of his wealth.
As the advertisement photo appeared on the monitor, Candidate Kim couldn’t hide his embarrassment, bowing his head with his eyes tightly shut. He also pursed his lips, seemingly trying to stifle a laugh.
In response to the question, he briefly replied, "I don’t think it’s something I should elaborate on. It’s something that happened."
The suit advertisement was for Kolon Trading Company (now Kolon Group), and it is reported that using Kim as a model was a bold move at the time. Additionally, as explained by Cha, it has been confirmed that Kim donated his entire modeling fee. The donated amount was distributed to 18 elementary schools in Yeongdeungpo, where he was elected, to support children in need of meals. Each school received between 1.5 to 3 million won, benefiting a total of 524 children.
Meanwhile, the confirmation hearing for Candidate Kim was held over two days, on the 24th and 25th. On the second day, issues regarding Kim’s wealth, education, and suspicions about his children's entrance exams led to continuous disputes between the ruling and opposition parties, ultimately resulting in the hearing being adjourned without resuming after a break.
On the 26th, Candidate Kim expressed his thoughts via Facebook, stating, "I have tried to fulfill my public responsibilities amidst a tough life, but I recognize that there may still be many shortcomings in the eyes of the public. I apologize for that." He also vowed, "If I am approved, I will take the sky and the people as pillars of judgment."
Image source: Kim Min-seok, the Prime Minister candidate, attends a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th, listening to questions from Democratic Party member Cha Hyun-il while viewing a photo from his 1999 suit advertisement. 2025.6.24 / News1, Kim Min-seok Prime Minister candidate / News1
