Candidate Kim Seung-hee's First Day at Work... Emphasizes Expertise in Health Care, Denies Gap Investment Allegations

Office at Seoul Chungjeongno National Pension Service

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Health and Welfare Minister nominee Kim Seung-hee emphasized her 26 years of experience in related government departments on her first day at work, while fully denying allegations related to real estate involving herself and her daughter.

On the 30th, nominee Kim made these remarks as she arrived for the first time at her office set up in the National Pension Service building in Chungjeong-ro, Seoul.

Kim said, "I feel a great sense of responsibility as I have been appointed as a nominee at an important time when social polarization and COVID-19 have created many challenges." She added, "I have served in related government departments for 26 years and have been active in the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee for four years. I believe I was appointed because my knowledge and experience accumulated as a public official and a member of the National Assembly are recognized as professional capabilities to solve important issues in the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

Kim described herself as a "delicate woman" and expressed her aspirations for the future. She said, "I was the first woman to serve as director, commissioner, deputy minister, and head at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. With the delicacy of a woman, I will do my best to implement welfare policies that warmly embrace even the dark corners of society where people are suffering, with a soft and warm perspective."

Regarding the real estate allegations involving her daughter and herself, she fully denied them. Concerning the suspicion that she made a profit of billions of won from an apartment allocated through a special supply for public officials, Kim explained, "When I was allocated the apartment in Sejong City, it was because I was working there for that purpose, but I retired from public service before moving in and came back to Seoul, so I could not live there. After being appointed as the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the tenant’s lease period was still remaining, so I could not move in." She added, "As soon as the tenant’s lease expired, I came to the National Assembly and sold the apartment. At that time, the tenant asked me, ‘The apartment price is rising a lot, why are you selling it?’ If it had been for speculation, I would have kept it until now, so why would I have sold it?"

Regarding the allegation that her daughter made a gap investment using the nominee’s mother’s apartment, she rebutted, "My mother is very old and has no income, but she felt sorry to receive help, so she raised a large sum of money through the sale of the apartment. Even at that time, to avoid misunderstandings later, the sale was made at market price, contracts were drawn up, and all taxes were paid."

When asked about the controversy over her harsh remarks, including the 'dementia comment' about former President Moon Jae-in, Kim said, "At that time, as an opposition party member of the National Assembly, I criticized and checked the government through my legislative activities, but this has boomeranged and is being used as an issue regarding my qualifications as a nominee." She continued, "The attitude of a politician and leading society comprehensively in an administrative department while prioritizing the happiness of the people are different. If there are any inappropriate expressions, I will fully explain them so that opposition members do not worry."

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