Kukim: "Kim Hye-kyung charged 3.18 million KRW on Gyeonggi-do Cheong government card at a bokjip near her home"

"1 Hour 20 Minutes Round Trip from Gyeonggi Provincial Government"
"Suspicion of Corporate Card Sharing Among 6 Departments"

Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, held a press conference on the 9th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, to apologize for the controversy over excessive protocol.

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The People Power Party revealed that Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, was found to have used the Gyeonggi Province corporate card to pay 3.18 million KRW over 15 transactions at a nearby bokjip (octopus restaurant) near their residence, which was then processed as business promotion expenses.

Choi Ji-hyun, senior deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, stated in a commentary on the 16th, "The workload for the Gyeonggi Province audit is overwhelming due to allegations including the improper hiring of public official Bae, who was responsible for Kim’s escort, misuse of the corporate card, and exclusive assignment of official vehicles. Since it seems unlikely that these issues will be properly investigated due to the workload, we intend to proceed with the audit process on behalf of the people," announcing these suspicions.

He said, "The whistleblower revealed that 120,000 KRW was paid by corporate card at '○○ Bokjip,' located 500 meters from the candidate’s residence in Sunnae-dong, and the food was delivered to the residence," adding, "An analysis of the disclosed Gyeonggi Province business promotion expenses shows that from October 2009 to August 2021, 15 transactions totaling 3.18 million KRW were made at '○○ Bokjip' using the corporate card. This is not a legitimate use of business promotion expenses but an embezzlement of public funds."

Photo by People Power Party

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Choi cited several reasons, including ▲the fact that '○○ Bokjip' is located 1 hour and 20 minutes round trip from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office ▲the simultaneous payments of 120,000 KRW and 110,000 KRW by the General Affairs Division and the Autonomous Administration Division on the same day ▲and that the cheapest menu at the restaurant costs 30,000 KRW, yet many documents list meal expenses per person for meetings as less than 30,000 KRW, arguing that there is no record that the Gyeonggi Provincial Office held meetings at the bokjip, claiming this to be false.

He continued, "Corporate card payments were made at '○○ Bokjip' by six departments including the General Affairs Division and the Labor Policy Division," adding, "This means that multiple departments shared the burden because the General Affairs Division alone was insufficient. The situation of the public officials who handed over their corporate cards is pitiful."

He pressured the Gyeonggi Province Audit Office, which is investigating Kim’s embezzlement of public funds, saying, "Stop delaying tactics and immediately file a criminal complaint starting with the 3.18 million KRW at '○○ Bokjip.'"

Deputy Spokesperson Choi raised his voice, saying, "A taxi driver was dismissed for embezzling 980,000 KRW. A parking fee collector was also dismissed for embezzling 1.95 million KRW. There have been cases where nominees for the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court were disqualified due to suspicions of using business promotion expenses at their doorstep on weekends and holidays," and asked, "How does candidate Lee Jae-myung intend to take responsibility for the clearly revealed embezzlement of public funds?"

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