'120,000 Won Card Payments Each'... Recording Revealing Suspicion of Kim Hye-kyung's Corporate Card Misuse Released

Did the General Affairs Department follow protocol and make payments of 120,000 won each?
Repeated card payments of '120,000 won each' at regular restaurants including not only Butcher's Restaurant but also Japanese and Chinese cuisine
Democratic Party "Audit requested... Results will come out soon"

A recording suggesting that Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, misused a corporate card for personal expenses has been released. The photo shows Ms. Kim talking with local cultural figures at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Cheongju, in Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk Province, on the 20th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A recording containing related circumstances has been released amid allegations that Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, misused a corporate card for personal purposes.

On the 3rd, JTBC obtained and disclosed a conversation suggesting that Kim's side continuously engaged in so-called 'card kkang,' a practice of making payments in increments of 120,000 won.

A whistleblower, identified as A, claimed that Kim's side repeatedly used the corporate card not only at butcher restaurants but also at regular dining spots such as Japanese and Chinese restaurants.

A, who was part of the secretary office of then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, stated that from March last year for about seven months, "depending on the situation, the corporate card was used once or twice a week, and payments were repeatedly made in a way that always reached 120,000 won per transaction." It was said that under the instructions of a public official named Bae from the general affairs department, the amount, time, and place were predetermined, and the corporate card was used for Kim's personal errands.

Bae, a former Gyeonggi Provincial Office official known to have been in charge of Kim's escort, instructed A to buy Korean beef when mentioning "card kkang." In the recording, Bae said, "When I did that card kkang, it never exceeded 200,000 won at that place. Since sirloin is expensive, ask how much about 10 servings of ribeye would cost. Choose the leanest part," directing to adjust the amount to 120,000 won.

This appears to be because the general affairs department set a customary cost limit of up to 120,000 won considering the number of protocol team members. The whistleblower's side claimed, "They repeatedly reported immediately after use and returned the card," adding, "They made payments within the set limit fearing that personal use might be exposed."

JTBC also confirmed that Kim's side purchased food for 120,000 won at a sushi restaurant in Gwanggyo, Suwon, in June last year. The whistleblower explained that most of the food bought with the corporate card was delivered to Kim.

In response, the Democratic Party's election campaign committee stated, "We have requested an audit, and the results are expected to come out soon," adding, "It is difficult to make a judgment based on claims from a specific individual, so we will discuss after the facts are revealed."

Meanwhile, candidate Lee Jae-myung issued a statement regarding the allegations of Kim's misuse of the corporate card, saying, "I hope the audit agency thoroughly investigates whether there was inappropriate use of the corporate card during my tenure as governor and reveals the truth," and "If any problems are found, I will take responsibility according to the regulations."

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