Song Young-gil "My secretary buys medicine for me when I'm sick"… Shin Ji-ye "Get a grip"

Shin Ji-ye "Public Institution Secretaries Are Not Servants Who Get Medicine Prescriptions on Behalf"

Shin Ji-ye, Former Senior Vice Chairman of the People Power Party's New Era Preparation Committee. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on the controversy surrounding the private mobilization of Gyeonggi Provincial Government officials by Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, saying, "There are times when my secretary buys medicine for me when I am sick." In response, Shin Ji-ye, former senior vice chairperson of the People Power Party's New Era Preparation Committee, pointed out on the 8th, "Public institution secretaries are not servants who fetch medicine by proxy."

Shin, in a post on her Facebook that day, said, "The public institution secretary work manual issued by the Ministry of Personnel Management does not include proxy prescriptions or handling of private tasks," emphasizing this point.

She added, "Even the sexual violence victim of Park Won-soon was asked to handle proxy prescriptions and private tasks," and directly criticized, "'Special appointment' means someone hired to perform such secretary duties and official residence tasks? A ruling party leader who says things that common sense would not allow so easily needs to come to their senses even now." She added, "It is now 2022."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, a former level 7 special appointment secretary A from Gyeonggi Provincial Government revealed that while Lee was serving as governor, she was instructed by Bae, a level 5 public official in the General Affairs Division of the provincial government, to run personal errands for Kim, including proxy prescription of medicine and food delivery. Later, A also reported additional suspicions such as misuse of Kim’s corporate card and use of official vehicles.

Regarding this, Leader Song appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 7th and said about Kim’s excessive protocol controversy, "Special appointment public officials originally perform secretary duties, and there are times when my secretary buys medicine for me when I am sick."

He said, "My secretary holds not only the party leader’s official expense card but also the National Assembly member’s political fund card. I cannot know how they are used," adding, "When it is an official expense item for the party leader, the secretary uses it and consults with the female office staff to handle it. How could I know all the details?"

He continued, "The candidate and the candidate’s spouse have already apologized for these issues, and I think continuing to create fake news is excessive."

Leader Song also claimed, "Special appointment means someone hired to perform such secretary duties and official residence tasks."

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