Kim Haeng: "My Sister-in-Law Is Not a Major Shareholder... She Said 'I Will Take It On Myself'"

Regarding Coin Investment Suspicion: "I Do Not Have a Personal Coin Wallet"

Kim Haeng, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, clarified allegations that her sister-in-law remained a major shareholder of the media outlet 'Wikitree,' which Kim co-founded, even after Kim sold her shares in 2013, stating, "My sister-in-law is not a major shareholder but one of several shareholders."

On the morning of the 18th, around 8:50 a.m., Kim met with reporters as she arrived at the personnel hearing preparation office located in the Ima Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "My sister-in-law is not a shareholder who can influence management."

Previously, on the 15th, Kim had stated, "When I went to serve as the Blue House spokesperson in 2013, I was ordered to place my shares in a blind trust and sold all my shares in Wikitree." However, according to media reports, Kim’s sister-in-law reportedly maintained a stake exceeding 12% from 2014 to 2021.

Regarding this, Kim explained, "Until 2012, the company’s condition was such that three employees started the company," adding, "Capital was fully eroded, operating profits were in the red, and there were many debts to banks. The company was in no position to place shares in a blind trust."

She continued, "I transferred all my shares 100% to the co-founder, who was able to fully control the company as the largest shareholder with just my shares," and said, "I could not purchase my husband’s shares."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She added, "My sister-in-law said, 'I will take on (my husband’s shares) myself,' so she took them on," and explained, "Social Holdings is the controlling company of Wikitree, but it does not have any shares owned by my sister-in-law, and at that time, the co-founder controlled 100% of the company."

Regarding the source of the 1 billion won capital, which was said to have been invested in stocks and coins, she said, "While creating Metaverse Canvas, the company invested 100%. No personal money was invested at all," and added, "I do not have a personal coin wallet and have never traded."

On the budget cut related to youth rights protection in next year’s Gender Equality and Family Ministry budget, she responded, "I will explain the reasons and background in detail at the hearing."

Regarding the non-consensual rape law, she said, "It would be better to explain it precisely at the hearing."

On the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, she explained, "This is not a civil servant restructuring, so please do not misunderstand," and added, "The ministry’s unique policies will never disappear."

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