The People Power Party Urges Withdrawal of Prime Minister Nominee Kim Min-seok

The People Power Party has strongly criticized the moral issues surrounding Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok and officially demanded his withdrawal.

On the morning of the 30th, Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the "Public Hearing on Prime Minister Nominee Kim Min-seok" held at the National Assembly, "A public service society where morality and ethical standards have collapsed ultimately endangers the lives of the people," unleashing a barrage of strong criticism.

Song emphasized, "During last week's hearing, we witnessed scenes that are utterly unacceptable by public common sense," adding, "While there is no income, wealth has increased, and various suspicions regarding cabbage farming, defectors, and gift taxes have snowballed."

Furthermore, he pointed out, "The two-day hearing turned into a time to confirm the public's anger and disillusionment rather than verifying the candidate," and criticized, "It seems that President Lee Jae-myung thinks it’s enough to win elections, while nominee Kim seems to believe that he can just push through."

Claims of Suspicions by Private Experts

On this day, the public hearing was conducted with 18 cabbage heads displayed, targeting nominee Kim's claim of earning 4.5 million won per month from cabbage farming.

Various private committee members, including accounting experts, defectors, and farmers, attended to verify the suspicions regarding nominee Kim.

Accountant Kim Kyung-yul pointed out as a distinctive feature of Kim's hearing that "there is no account information or witnesses," stating, "They are calling Kim Min-seok the second Jo Kuk, but then Jo Kuk might feel unfair."

He analyzed nominee Kim's year-end settlement data and pointed out that there is no proof for income amounting to 800 million won.

Furthermore, he claimed that the amount lacking income verification actually reaches 1.1 billion won.

Accountant Kim stated, "The funding for Kim Min-seok's publication presentations as a member of the National Assembly, condolence money for his father-in-law, and educational expenses for his ex-wife are all means that could slightly deviate from the Public Service Ethics Act," and emphasized, "Members of the National Assembly and ministers should not trivialize the Public Service Ethics Act in this way."

Controversial 'Defector' Expression

Defector Kim Geum-hyeok strongly criticized nominee Kim for describing North Korean defectors as 'defectors' and 'escapees' in his master's thesis at Tsinghua University.

He remarked, "This means someone who has betrayed North Korea or has escaped from North Korea, and when it became controversial, he claimed it does not mean that. He insisted it’s a word used in China," adding, "It seems he's weak when it comes to the Thousand Character Classic while obtaining a master’s degree at Tsinghua."

Kim stated of the term, "There is no room for another interpretation. It means someone who has betrayed and escaped, nothing else," and criticized it by saying, "The term is unfamiliar and not used at all in China."

Floor leader Song emphasized, "If we approve a candidate as immoral as Kim, no hearing in the future can hold any significance," and reiterated the demand for the withdrawal of nominee Kim Min-seok, stating, "You cannot expect the lower waters to be clear when the upper waters are murky."

Image source: Floor leader Song Eon-seok of the People Power Party speaks at the public hearing on Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th. / News1, Kim Min-seok Prime Minister nominee / News1, News1