"Civic Group Files Police Complaint Against Kim Hyunji for 'Abuse of Authority' Over Non-Disclosure of Personal Information Such as Age and Education"

People's Livelihood Countermeasure Committee Files Complaint with Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Secretariat of the Presidential Office. Photo by Yonhap News

A civic group has filed a police complaint against Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Secretariat of the Presidential Office and known close aide to President Lee Jaemyung, alleging abuse of authority for not disclosing personal information such as her age and educational background.

The People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee (Seominwi) announced on October 6 that it had reported Kim to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on charges including abuse of authority, coercion, obstruction of work, and embezzlement and breach of trust in the course of duty.

In the complaint, Seominwi argued, "As a Grade 1 public official and the secretary overseeing budget, facility management, and personnel administration, failing to disclose even basic information such as age, education, career, and hometown constitutes abuse of authority and deceives the public."

The group further claimed, "During her tenure as secretary for general affairs, Kim directly called Kang Sunwoo, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, to convey President Lee Jaemyung's intention that 'the candidate should resign,' which amounts to abuse of authority and coercion by interfering in personnel matters."

Previously, a media outlet reported that while serving as secretary for general affairs at the Presidential Office, Kim had called then-candidate Kang before her resignation announcement to deliver President Lee's message that "she should resign." However, the Presidential Office has denied these allegations.

Seominwi also alleged that a non-profit organization where Kim previously served as secretary general received 1.788 billion won in subsidies over 12 years starting in 2010, and argued that if the use of funds during her tenure was unclear, this could constitute embezzlement and breach of trust in the course of duty.

The group added, "It is only natural for the secretary for general affairs at the Presidential Office to appear before the National Assembly's Steering Committee for a state audit and provide explanations. Refusing to do so and instead transferring to the position of Chief of the First Secretariat is an act of deception and an insult to both the National Assembly and the public."

On September 29, the Presidential Office carried out an internal personnel reshuffle, appointing Kim Hyunji, then secretary for general affairs, as Chief of the First Secretariat.

The opposition party has claimed that this move was intended to prevent Kim from appearing at the National Assembly's state audit, but the Presidential Office has refuted this, stating that the personnel change was unrelated to the audit.