People Power Party's Full-Scale Attack on 'Kim Hye-kyung Excessive Protocol Controversy'... "Cooperate with Investigation" (Comprehensive)

Legal Support Group to Submit Complaint Against Lee Jae-myung, Kim Hye-kyung, and Others for Abuse of Authority and Obstruction of Rights Charges

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and his spouse Kim Hye-kyung (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong, Park Junyi] The People Power Party has launched a full-scale offensive over the controversy surrounding 'excessive protocol' involving Kim Hye-kyung, wife of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate.

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, said on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' on the 3rd, "It is said that the local government budget was used for personal purposes, including eating beef at home. There are even reports that it was used to purchase food items for ancestral rites." He added, "If the governor managed his household in this way, what would happen when managing the country's affairs?"

Earlier, a whistleblower who was a public official at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office during Lee’s tenure as governor revealed through the media that under the instructions of Lee’s close aide Bae, they performed personal errands such as proxy prescriptions, food delivery, and wardrobe organization.

Floor leader Kim emphasized, "What is particularly problematic is that Lee reportedly hired separate staff dedicated to these tasks during his time as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province. Moreover, two people were hired with their salaries paid from local government budgets." He added, "The fact that they performed dedicated duties naturally suggests misuse of funds."

On the same day, Kwon Young-se, head of the election campaign headquarters, criticized at the joint meeting of the People Power Party’s election campaign headquarters and floor leadership, saying, "Various allegations such as Kim’s misuse of public funds and cases of power abuse are emerging." He added, "There should even be a 'Kim Hye-kyung Prevention Act' for proxy medical questionnaires, proxy prescriptions, and proxy underwear purchases." He also announced, "We will launch the Kim Hye-kyung Emperor Power Abuse Truth Investigation Center today," and demanded, "Instead of hiding behind aides, Kim should apologize to the public."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the same day, "I heard that when Lee was mayor of Seongnam, there was a 'one-strike-out' policy for embezzlement by public officials." He added, "If it is confirmed that private misuse of public funds occurred this time, it would be good to apply the one-strike-out policy that Lee himself mentioned."

Party spokespersons also joined in with multiple statements that day. Lee Yang-su, chief spokesperson of the election campaign headquarters, criticized, "Kim is trying to brush off such a serious illegal act with just a few lines in a statement as if it’s nothing." He added, "Not only is she trying to cover the sky with her palm, now she’s trying to cover it with one finger. This only adds to the crime of mocking the public." He urged, "Kim should immediately come forward to apologize to the public and respond to an investigation, not just an audit."

Kim Byung-min, spokesperson of the election campaign headquarters, said, "It has been revealed that Lee is at the center of the illegal power abuse allegations surrounding Kim." He pointed out, "The one who entrusted the card is the culprit. How long do they think they can ignore serious crimes by scapegoating others?" Kim Jae-hyun, senior deputy spokesperson of the election campaign headquarters, also said, "It is terrifying just to imagine what would happen if a couple who engaged in such acts during the Gyeonggi governorship becomes president." He added, "The core issue is that Lee and his wife have long regarded the private use of public officials and power abuse as their rightful privileges. What Lee and his wife need is a thorough investigation, as they have not even recognized these acts as illegal but have enjoyed power."

Heo Eun-ah, senior spokesperson of the party, criticized, "Kim, intoxicated with a sense of privilege, even forced unreasonable protocol and, when problems arose, made excuses that the staff acted on their own without orders. She has copied the behavior of chaebol wives seen on TV." She pointed out, "Lee acted like a politician who hates the privileged class, but his wife fully enjoyed the privileges of a chaebol wife."

The People Power Party’s legal support team plans to visit the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office civil affairs office at 2 p.m. that day to file a complaint against Lee and Kim for charges including abuse of authority, coercion, and violation of the Medical Service Act.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.