Hyun Geun-taek, Kim Hye-kyung on 'Excessive Protocol' Controversy: "No Content Indicating Direct Orders"

"If Kim Hye-kyung gave the order, it would have been recorded"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited the Andong Kim Clan Hwasuhoe in Andong City, Gyeongbuk, with his wife Kim Hye-kyung on the 1st, the Lunar New Year holiday, and is taking a commemorative photo.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Hyun Geun-taek, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea's election campaign committee, claimed on the 7th regarding the recent controversy over the "excessive protocol" involving Kim Hye-kyung, wife of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, that "there is no evidence that Ms. Kim directly gave orders or was involved."

On the same day, Hyun appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "Judging from the voice and other aspects in the recorded conversation, (Ms. Bae treated Mr. A) in a dehumanizing manner. She spoke very condescendingly and in a commanding tone. Nevertheless, there is no evidence in the recording that Ms. Kim directly gave orders or was involved. If she had given orders, Mr. A would have recorded it."

Earlier, a former employee A of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Secretariat Office revealed that while Lee was serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province, he carried out personal errands such as proxy prescription of medicine and food delivery for Ms. Kim under the instructions of Ms. Bae, a grade 5 public official in the General Affairs Division of the provincial government.

Regarding this, Hyun said, "It seems that the prescription of medicine is becoming a legal issue. It is said that the medicine was hung at the house. People would naturally assume that Ms. Kim took the medicine if it was hung at the house. There is a blind spot there," and pointed out, "Because one month later, she immediately obtained a six-month supply of medicine under her own name. Mr. A said he did proxy prescriptions to avoid leaving medical records, but then there would be no reason to get six months' worth of medicine under her own name one month later."

He continued, "If it was hung at the front door, people would naturally think it was delivered to that person. That is just an assumption." He also added, "Ms. Bae could have taken the medicine."

Meanwhile, Hyun said, "It seems that Ms. Bae's abuse of power is true. But Mr. A was introduced by Ms. Bae," expressing suspicion, "Then the two would be close, right? But he said he worked for nine months and recorded for eight months."

He added, "He was introduced, but recording and capturing everything the person ordered and then releasing it not all at once as a whistleblower but bit by bit seems to have political motives."

In response, Kim Geun-sik, former head of the People Power Party's election campaign committee's political analysis office, who appeared on the broadcast together, said, "I understand that spokesperson Hyun is defending the candidate's position because he is part of the campaign committee, but it seems he went too far."

Meanwhile, Ms. Kim apologized for the excessive protocol controversy, saying, "Everything is my fault." In a statement on the 2nd, Ms. Kim said, "Everything is my fault. I should have clearly distinguished between public and private matters, but I received help because of my acquaintance with Ms. Bae," adding, "However, I did not receive constant assistance." She continued, "Once again, I apologize to the public for causing concern."

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