Prosecutor General Nominee Kim Osu's Son Faces Police Report Over 'Unfair Hiring' Controversy

Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for Prosecutor General, is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A civic group has filed a complaint with the police regarding the controversy that the son of Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for Prosecutor General, was 'unfairly hired' at a government-funded research institute.

The Association of Judicial Exam Preparers (Sajunmo) announced on the 26th that it filed a complaint with the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters against Kim's son, Kim (29), and the then recruitment officer of the Korea Electronics Technology Institute on charges of obstruction of business.

Jeon Ju-hye, a member of the People Power Party, raised suspicions that when Kim entered the Electronics Components Research Institute (now Korea Electronics Technology Institute) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in August 2017, he used an old application form and listed his father's occupation (Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office). The institute took no special action, and Kim was finally hired as a part-time professional contract employee. It was also reported that there were spelling mistakes in the application form.

In the complaint, Sajunmo claimed, "Not only did he list his father's occupation, but he also wrote content in the application documents that would logically make it impossible to pass the public enterprise hiring process and was hired," adding, "Submitting an application form listing the occupation of a high-ranking public official father, rather than the application form provided by the institute, constitutes deception in obstruction of business."

In response, Kim stated at the National Assembly confirmation hearing that day, "I have never made any improper requests regarding my son's employment." Kim explained, "I have no knowledge of that place, do not know anyone there, and have never made a phone call," adding, "I am a father who is truly indifferent to my son's employment or studies."

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