Handuksoo's Side: "Conflict of Interest with US Mobile Company? ... Unrelated to the Candidate"

"Not only does it not overlap with regular duties, but the command structure itself is different"

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo is answering reporters' questions as he arrives at the National Assembly confirmation hearing preparation office located in the Korea Productivity Center building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 15th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] The camp of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo emphasized on the 17th that the "possibility of conflict of interest" with the American company Mobil was "unrelated to the nominee."

Han's camp released a statement that day, saying, "During the overseas natural gas development project, Han served as the Director-General of Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, and thus could not have influenced the related project."

They added, "Although the Korea National Oil Corporation is a public institution under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, it is subordinate to the Resource Policy Office," explaining, "Regardless of the amount of gas reserves, the trade duties handled by the nominee do not overlap, and the command structures themselves are different."

It is known that Han leased a house located in Sinmunno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to the American telecommunications company AT&T and Mobil Oil Korea, a subsidiary of the American global oil company Mobil, for 10 years from 1989 to 1999, earning rental income of 620 million won. Mobil participated in the overseas natural gas development project led by the Korea National Oil Corporation in 1996. In this context, the Democratic Party claims that there is a potential conflict of interest regarding Han's high rental income and Mobil's participation in the natural gas project.

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