Yoon In-chon Actively Clarifies "No Blacklist... Also Paid Gift Tax"

Ryu "I don't even use the term 'Blacklist'"
Refusal to notify according to independent child livelihood guidelines

Yoo In-chon, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, strongly denied the opposition party's allegations of a 'blacklist' during the parliamentary confirmation hearing on the 5th, stating that it "does not exist." He also actively explained the issue regarding his children's gift tax, saying, "I have paid all the gift taxes."

During the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee that day, when Assemblyman Lim Jong-sung of the Democratic Party asked about the existence of a blacklist during the Lee Myung-bak administration, Yoo said, "It did not actually exist. The term 'blacklist' itself was not used."

Yoo In-chon, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is responding to questions from lawmakers at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on October 5, 2023. Photo by Yonhap News

The cultural and artistic blacklist is an allegation raised based on documents from the Blue House and the National Intelligence Service during the Lee Myung-bak administration, which were made public in 2017. Some argue that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the time created the blacklist and discriminated against artists accordingly, opposing Yoo's appointment.

At the hearing, Assemblyman Lim launched a fierce attack, pointing out that Yoo's name was mentioned 104 times in the white paper created by the 'Cultural and Artistic Blacklist Truth Investigation and System Improvement Committee.'

In response, Yoo said, "Regarding the blacklist incident during the Park Geun-hye administration, ministers, Blue House chiefs and administrators, and employees of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated organizations were arrested and disciplined," adding, "I am curious why I was not arrested despite my name being mentioned 104 times."

He continued, "If you look into the white paper, it says things like 'there are rumors like this' or 'someone said this in such a way,'" and added, "While I may have disliked some people who were on site, I never excluded them. I also genuinely want to know exactly how many people were excluded because of such things (blacklist) when I was minister."

Yoo also refuted allegations that he received a direct report from the National Intelligence Service in 2010, when he was Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, regarding a document titled 'Neutralizing Anti-Government Political Activities of Pro-North Korean Forces in the Arts Community.' When Assemblyman Lim asked if he had ever seen or received the document, Yoo said, "No," emphasizing, "I never actually received it, nor did the National Intelligence Service come to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to directly hand over anything."

Yoo In-chon, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is receiving questions related to the cultural blacklist that emerged during the MB administration ministerial period at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 5th. 2023.10.5 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoo actively explained the allegations of gift tax evasion related to his two children.

Assemblywoman Lim Oh-kyung of the Democratic Party pointed out, "There are suspicions regarding the property status of the nominee's two sons. The younger son purchased an apartment in Seongdong-gu for 625 million won the year after he was discharged from the military in 2014. At that time, he was 27 years old and had no mortgage loans. Coincidentally, ten days later, the elder son bought an apartment in the same complex for over 700 million won without a mortgage loan. Are these unemployed sons exceptionally capable, or did they use their father's influence?"

In response, Yoo said, "I clearly stated in the documents that I gifted that portion, and I paid the corresponding gift tax," adding, "At that time, I had left public office and was not involved in any work. I thought I should organize things properly, so I did so through gifting."

He further explained, "I have submitted all tax payment documents and real estate-related materials concerning me and my spouse," adding, "My children are already adults with independent livelihoods and have refused to disclose their assets. They refused notification according to the guidelines."

Previously, Yoo became embroiled in controversy for refusing to submit gift tax payment documents after his two children purchased apartments worth several hundred million won.

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