The left picture exhibits Kim Hyun-ji, first chief of administrative employees on the presidential workplace, attending a gathering of senior presidential secretaries on the presidential workplace in Seoul, Thursday. The appropriate picture exhibits presidential digital communications secretary Kim Nam-kuk’s seat empty throughout the identical assembly. Korea Instances pictures by Wang Tae-seog
An issue over influence-peddling allegations erupted on the presidential workplace after Moon Jin-seog, deputy chief flooring chief for the ruling Democratic Social gathering of Korea (DPK), was caught on digicam asking presidential digital communications secretary Kim Nam-kuk to suggest an acquaintance for a senior submit at a non-public trade affiliation.
Kim submitted his resignation on Thursday. The presidential workplace confirmed by way of a press discover at 3:10 p.m. that the resignation had been accepted.
The incident got here to gentle on Tuesday, when media cameras captured Moon sending a Telegram message throughout a Nationwide Meeting plenary session, asking Kim to suggest their college alumnus for the presidency of the Korea Car & Mobility Affiliation (KAMA). Moon and Kim are each alumni of Chung-Ang College.
Within the message, Moon wrote: “He’s Hong Seong-beom — him too. He’s considered one of our Chung-Ang College alumni. He served as spokesperson when the president (Lee Jae Myung) ran for (Gyeonggi) governor and has expertise as a division head on the KAMA, so he’s certified. If I make the advice, presidential chief of employees Kang Hoon-sik will oppose it, so that you attempt recommending him as a substitute.”
In response to digicam footage, Kim replied: “I’ll suggest him to Hoon-sik hyeong and Hyun-ji nuna.”
The “hyeong” and “nuna” referenced are understood to be presidential chief of employees Kang and Kim Hyun-ji, first chief of administrative employees on the presidential workplace. In Korean, “hyeong” and “nuna” are kinship phrases that means “older brother” and “older sister” that may also be used affectionately with buddies.
On Wednesday, earlier than Kim’s resignation, the presidential workplace introduced it had issued a stern warning to an inner staffer for “inappropriately conveying inaccurate info,” a press release interpreted as referring to Kim.
Kim Nam-kuk, former digital communications secretary to the president, solutions questions from reporters after concluding the first-trial sentencing listening to on expenses of obstruction of official duties by deception on the Seoul Southern District Court docket in Seoul, Feb. 10. The court docket dominated Kim not responsible of the cost. Newsis
The ruling DPK management acknowledged the state of affairs was “extremely inappropriate.” DPK chief Kim Byung-kee reportedly phoned Moon to ship a powerful warning, and senior celebration officers criticized Moon’s conduct as “deeply improper.”
Nevertheless, the celebration’s chief spokesperson Park Soo-hyun stated in a radio interview Thursday that the case didn’t seem to rise to the extent of a legal matter or warrant an inner ethics investigation.
“This can be a ethical and political challenge, not a matter for a criminal-focused ethics inquiry,” Park stated.
Opposition events, together with the Folks Energy Social gathering (PPP) and the Reform Social gathering, seized on the case to criticize the presidential personnel system. PPP flooring chief Track Eon-seog argued the incident exhibits that senior presidential aides wield extreme behind-the-scenes affect.
“It reveals that high-ranking presidential officers and ruling DPK insiders are meddling even within the appointment of personal sector affiliation heads. Permitting Kim Hyun-ji to manage positions outdoors the federal government is a blatant case of personal lobbying and abuse of authority — a matter warranting an impartial counsel and legal investigation,” Track stated Thursday.
PPP spokesperson Choi Eun-seok stated that the episode uncovered “proof that Kim Hyun-ji has been appearing as the last word energy dealer, bypassing formal channels.”
Moon Jin-seog, heart, deputy chief flooring chief for the ruling Democratic Social gathering of Korea (DPK), walks by way of the Nationwide Meeting in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Reform Social gathering chief Lee Jun-seok argued that the presidential personnel system seems to be failing and renewed his name for appointing a particular inspector for the presidential workplace.
“Neither the Moon administration nor the Yoon administration appointed a particular inspector, and each suffered personnel failures because of this.”
He questioned the DPK’s argument that the alternate was merely a benign advice quite than a lobbying try, saying, “A professional advice focuses on a candidate’s capabilities. However the messages between Moon and Kim emphasize faculty ties and marketing campaign affiliations. This seems extra like serving to one’s personal circle than figuring out expertise for the nation.”
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung takes questions from reporters after ending a briefing associated to the senior secretaries’ assembly held earlier that day on the presidential workplace in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
The presidential workplace, whereas acknowledging that the previous digital communications secretary voluntarily tendered his resignation in order to not burden the Lee administration, firmly denied that Kim Hyun-ji had any involvement in personnel issues in regards to the heads of private-sector trade associations.
“He conveyed inaccurate info in an inappropriate method. That matter has nothing to do with the presidential workplace’s personnel authority. My understanding is that Kim Nam-kuk supplied his resignation as a result of he had made an incorrect assertion in his response, and he was involved it’d place a burden on state affairs,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated throughout a briefing Thursday afternoon.
Responding to a query about why the workplace shifted its stance from issuing a warning on the day prior to this to accepting the resignation, Kang reiterated, “Yesterday, we introduced {that a} stern warning had been issued, and he obtained a powerful reprimand concerning that matter. It’s my understanding that former secretary Kim’s resignation was accepted on the grounds that his actions may have imposed an undue burden on state affairs.”
