Yeo Leadership's Song Gap-seok Also Criticizes Kim Nam-guk: "Not Something to Be Proud Of"

"Fellow Lawmakers Also Don't Understand"
"Appealing for Support in Front, But Is There No Problem with Coin Trading Behind the Scenes?"

Song Gap-seok, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, demanded an apology from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who is at the center of the '6 billion won coin' controversy, through social networking services (SNS). As this is the first time a member of the opposition leadership has publicly criticized Kim, it suggests that the internal party atmosphere is uneasy.

On the 9th, Song posted on his social networking service (SNS) a message titled "Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, it is not something to be proud of to claim there was no illegal or illicit activity. You should feel ashamed, reflect, and apologize," urging, "Stop actions that erode public trust in the Democratic Party through statements that stray from the essence and insufficient explanations."

Song Gap-seok, Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party's Yoon Seok-yeol Government Political Oppression Countermeasures Committee, is giving an opening statement on April 4th in front of the Board of Audit and Inspection in Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of a solo picket protest against the "Board of Audit and Inspection's investigation of former President Moon Jae-in." Members of the Democratic Party's Political Oppression Countermeasures Committee announced that starting from this day, they will hold relay solo protests to raise awareness that the Board of Audit and Inspection's attempt to investigate former President Moon is unjust. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Kim explained the '6 billion won coin' controversy the day before and emphasized that there was no illegal activity. However, the debate over whether investing in junk coins and making money is appropriate behavior for a politician has not ceased.

Song said, "Currently, regarding lawmaker Kim’s coin holdings, numerous controversies have arisen, such as whether there was illegal or illicit activity, conflicts of interest, or whether he pretended to be an ordinary citizen. Many parts are incomprehensible to the public, and my fellow lawmakers and I feel the same," adding, "Nevertheless, instead of resolving suspicions, Kim raised allegations of personal information leaks, involved members of other parties, and made unnecessary remarks about staking something, which caused public disapproval."

He continued, "The bigger problem is Kim’s attitude of not even expressing regret, let alone apologizing, in his statement to the public and party members," and raised his voice, "Does a public official who is a member of the National Assembly, a Democratic Party lawmaker who claims to represent the pain of ordinary people, really think it is no problem to have been buying and selling coins worth tens of billions of won for personal gain?"

Song criticized, "Moreover, (the coin investment) was made at a time when party members and supporters nationwide were putting their utmost effort into election campaigns ahead of the presidential election," and asked, "Do you really think it is acceptable behavior for a Democratic Party lawmaker to be appealing for support in public while conducting coin transactions worth tens of billions of won behind the scenes?"

He questioned, "The role of politics and the duty of lawmakers is to improve the reality of young people drawn to speculative risky assets and to resolve various problems surrounding the coin market," and asked, "How can it be the proper attitude of a public official to ignore this and jump into the speculative market to increase personal wealth?"

Song said, "Is it okay as long as illegal transactions were not made and one lives frugally?" and urged, "Stop making indiscreet remarks that disgrace the entire party, return to the initial mindset at your first inauguration, reflect on what the attitude of a public official should be, and provide a clear explanation."

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