Kim Seung-hee Explains "Contractual Obligation" Amid Allegations of Purchasing After Repainting with Rental Car Political Funds

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Allegations have been raised that Kim Seung-hee, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, repainted a rental car used for official duties during her time as a member of the National Assembly with political funds and then took over the vehicle for personal use. Kim explained that the repainting was done as a contractual obligation.

According to the office of Go Young-in, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim changed the use of a Genesis G80 vehicle, which she used for official duties, to a "private passenger car" in June 2020, immediately after her term as a member of the National Assembly ended. This vehicle was registered as a "commercial passenger car" (rental car) in February 2017. Subsequently, on March 30, 2020, while still serving as a member, Kim repainted the vehicle using approximately 3.52 million KRW of political funds.

The office of Representative Go stated, "Spending millions of won of political funds to repaint an official vehicle used during the term just a few months before the term ended clearly indicates an intention to own the vehicle." They added, "The principle is that vehicles rented with political funds for legislative activities should be returned after the term ends." They further criticized, "Such moral lapses by nominee Kim can only be seen as a lack of qualifications for a ministerial candidate."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare Minister nominee’s confirmation hearing preparation team rebutted, stating that the repainting of the rental car was a contractual obligation. The team explained in a press release, "At that time, the nominee’s long-term rental vehicle had frequent minor accidents and the exterior was in poor condition, so a full repaint was necessary. The repainting was done in accordance with the lease contract’s clause requiring restoration to the original condition at the end of the rental period."

The lease contract includes a clause that the customer must return the vehicle in the condition it was initially delivered (in good condition without requiring bodywork or painting), except for normal wear and tear, upon contract termination.

Additionally, the preparation team stated, "Although the rental contract expired in March 2020 and restoration work such as repainting was done, the contract was extended until the end of May, about two months before the National Assembly term expired, and the vehicle was used during that period. Later, when a vehicle was needed, the familiar rental vehicle was taken over."

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