The Election Commission Requests Prosecutor General's Investigation into Candidate Kim Seung-hee... Opposition Says "Subject to Investigation, Not Confirmation Hearing"

Assemblywoman Shin Hyun-young "Voluntary Resignation or Appointment Withdrawal Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] The National Election Commission has requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into Kim Seung-hee, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 29th, Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office and disclosed the official response materials received from the Election Commission, announcing this information.

Rep. Shin stated, "The Election Commission conducted a verification investigation on whether Minister nominee Kim violated the Political Funds Act and officially responded that they requested an investigation to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on June 28 on charges of violating Articles 2 and 47 of the Political Funds Act."

She continued, "The nominee admitted to using 18.57 million won for a rental car deposit and 345,900 won for her spouse's vehicle insurance in violation of the Political Funds Act and returned the funds to the Election Commission," adding, "She is no longer a subject of a personnel hearing but a criminal suspect under investigation."

Rep. Shin criticized, "A criminal suspect should not be forcibly appointed as the head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which manages a budget exceeding 100 trillion won."

She further emphasized, "President Yoon Seok-yeol should apologize to the public for the shortcomings of the personnel screening system and reappoint a competent and ethical candidate as a matter of course," and urged, "We immediately request Kim's voluntary resignation or President Yoon's withdrawal of the appointment."

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