Kim Tae-nyeon: "Yoon Mi-hyang, Elected by the People... Fact-Checking Comes First"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed the position that "fact-checking comes first" regarding the 'Yoon Mi-hyang allegations.' He also reaffirmed the party's existing stance that the Democratic Party will take the chairmanship of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

On the morning of the 21st, Kim appeared on CBS Radio and said about the allegations of embezzlement of donations against Yoon Mi-hyang, the Democratic Party's elected member, "Many media outlets are reporting suspicions, but as the party spokesperson officially stated yesterday, fact-checking must come first."

He added, "There are many supervisory agencies related to Justice and Memory, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Tax Service," and said, "These agencies are responsible and authorized to examine the accounting of the Justice and Memory Foundation. It is not too late to decide our position after the results come out."

When asked about the question that "public opinion has exceeded the level the party can handle," Kim said, "We are a public party," and added, "Isn't Yoon the person elected by the people? I think we need to be cautious in deciding our stance."

He emphasized, "We hold the position that the movement itself, which for 30 years has brought the comfort women issue into public discourse in our society, built international solidarity, and elevated it to a universal human rights issue, should not be disparaged."

Regarding the timing for the party to decide its position, he said, "I heard it will not take that long." On whether the results of fact-checking such as accounting audits will come out within this week, he said, "I cannot specify a date," and added, "Since the prosecution conducted a search and seizure yesterday, they took the ledgers that should be audited by external agencies. We need to see whether an external accounting audit will be conducted."

Regarding the composition of the standing committees of the 21st National Assembly, he emphasized, "We must create a working National Assembly." Kim said, "Regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's authority to review the system and wording, since it is a practical function, a separate organization can be created within the Secretariat."

When asked whether the Democratic Party should take both the chairmanships of the Budget and Accounts Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he said, "Of course," and added, "(In the case of the Budget and Accounts Committee) the ruling party should naturally take charge responsibly." He continued, "There was a time when the majority party, the ruling party, occupied all standing committee chairmanships. Even in the United States, the majority party holds all standing committee chairmanships."

Regarding the possibility that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) might handle the reinvestigation of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's bribery case, he said, "I hope the relevant agencies, such as the prosecution, look into it first."

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