Kim Hye-kyung's 'Excessive Protocol' Controversy... Could the 'Spouse Risk' Become a Presidential Election Time Bomb?

Presidential Candidates' 'Spouse Risks'... Following Kim Geon-hee's 'Recorded Transcript,' Kim Hye-kyung Faces Allegations of 'Excessive Protocol and Private Use of Corporate Card'
Kim Hye-kyung: "Should Have Clearly Separated Public and Private Matters... Everything Is My Fault"
People Power Party: "Not Just Excessive Protocol but a 'Clear Illegal Act'"
Experts: "The Presidential Election Outcome Will Depend on Which Risks Voters Perceive as More Serious"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and his spouse Kim Hye-kyung visited Yongsan Station in Seoul on the 31st of last month, greeting New Year's travelers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Political repercussions are spreading as allegations of 'excessive protocol' involving Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, have surfaced. While the controversy over the recorded conversations involving Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's candidate, has been subsiding, the ruling party is now facing what is being called a 'spouse risk.'

Recently, allegations of 'excessive protocol' have been raised that during Lee's tenure as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim allegedly involved public officials in private tasks such as proxy prescription of medicine and proxy discharge procedures. A former level 7 special secretary A claimed that at the time, Bae, a level 5 official in the General Affairs Division of Gyeonggi Provincial Government, unjustly ordered her to handle Kim's proxy prescription and receipt of medicine, as well as food delivery.

Subsequently, suspicions arose that Kim used the corporate card of the Gyeonggi Provincial Secretary's Office for private purposes. It is alleged that Kim's support team circumvented related accounting regulations by initially prepaying with a personal card and then canceling it to re-pay with the corporate card, employing such irregular methods.

The Democratic Party's Election Campaign Committee issued a statement on the 2nd to quell the controversy. Kim said, "Everything is my fault. I should have clearly distinguished between public and private matters, but I received help because of my friendship with Bae. However, I did not receive constant assistance," and apologized, saying, "I once again apologize to the public for causing concern."

Bae Mo, who is known to have ordered the excessive protocol, also released a statement saying, "I asked A to do things that no one ordered," and added, "I mistakenly thought that knowing Lee for a long time was a privilege, and I made unreasonable demands to be in good favor with Lee and his spouse."

Lee himself bowed his head regarding the allegations of excessive protocol involving Kim. In a statement released through the campaign committee on the 3rd, he said, "As governor, I failed to oversee the improper actions of staff, and my spouse also failed to detect potentially problematic matters in advance," adding, "I thought I had tried to reflect on myself and those around me with stricter standards, but it was still insufficient. I will take this opportunity to think and act more carefully about myself, my family, and those around me." He also expressed his intention to take responsibility according to regulations if problems are revealed.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee, CEO of Kobana Contents, are making a public apology regarding allegations of false credentials on December 26 last year at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Previously, the People Power Party, which suffered from 'spouse risk,' increased pressure on Kim. Yoon's spouse, Kim Gun-hee, has apologized multiple times over controversies such as allegations of false resume entries and the '7-hour phone call transcript.'

Won Il-hee, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election headquarters, issued a comment that day, saying, "There is an outpouring of testimony and evidence that Kim's private use of public officials is not simple excessive protocol but a clear illegal act," and criticized, "The explanation that neither Lee nor Kim ordered it and that the public officials were excessively loyal is a scapegoating sophism."

Spokesperson Won also urged, "It is illegal for the spouse of a local government head to assign private tasks to public officials, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety prohibits it as a waste of national funds. Having a level 5 administrative officer as a personal secretary is a protocol at the Prime Minister level, so Lee must explain what authority Kim Hye-kyung had to enjoy Prime Minister-level protocol despite having no authority."

Choi Ji-hyun, senior deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party's election headquarters, also pointed out in a statement that day, "In addition to Kim Hye-kyung's illegal private use of public officials, allegations of national treasury loss crimes involving private use of Gyeonggi Province's corporate card have emerged," and criticized, "The blood tax of Gyeonggi residents was used for Kim Hye-kyung's errands for beef tenderloin and sashimi rice bowls."

On the 1st, a public opinion poll was released showing that the theory of 'regime change' is more dominant than the theory of 'regime extension.' [Image source=Yonhap News]

Some predict that in a situation where 'regime change theory' is stronger than 'regime extension theory,' Lee's spouse risk could negatively affect approval ratings. According to a survey conducted by Polling Fair Co., Ltd. on behalf of Dailyan, released on the 1st, among 1,002 voters nationwide aged 18 and over, 54.4% responded that the next presidential election should be about 'regime change with an opposition candidate,' surpassing the majority, while only 38.2% supported 'regime extension with a ruling party candidate.' For detailed information, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Experts suggest that the 'spouse risk' issues of both parties should be viewed separately.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "The direction of the presidential election will depend on which spouse risk?Kim Hye-kyung's or Kim Gun-hee's?the public perceives as more serious," and he predicted, "In fact, Yoon drew a line on Kim Gun-hee's shamanism controversy, and the Deutsche Motors and false resume allegations occurred before meeting Yoon. On the other hand, the recent allegations of Kim Hye-kyung's embezzlement of public funds are highly likely to lead to criminal charges and are incomprehensible as the conduct of a spouse of a high-ranking public official, so (voters) may view it more gravely."

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