When Opposition Requests Data on Congratulatory Money from Agencies... Choi Minhee Submits Parallel Request

After Kang Jang-gyeom's Office Requested Data, Choi Minhee's Office Followed
Choi Minhee's Side: "For Political Countermeasures... Not for Reimbursement"

During the National Assembly audit period, Choi Minhee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and Chairperson of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, who recently faced controversy over congratulatory money received at her child's wedding, was found to have made duplicate requests for records of floral wreaths and other items from affiliated agencies, which had already been requested by the People Power Party.

On the 23rd, at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee's audit of the Korea Broadcasting System and the Broadcasting Media Communications Deliberation Committee, Kang Jang-gyeom, a member of the People Power Party, is speaking. 2025.10.23 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

According to a compilation of reports by The Asia Business Daily on the 28th, Choi Minhee’s office requested data from agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction, such as the Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation (KOBACO), regarding the execution status of miscellaneous operating expenses and business promotion expenses. This same data had also been requested by the office of Kang Jang-gyeom, a member of the People Power Party on the committee. The list of miscellaneous operating expenses includes congratulatory money, condolence money, encouragement payments, and floral wreaths.

An official from KOBACO stated, “The office of Kang Jang-gyeom requested the related data, and it appears that Choi Minhee’s office also requested it to obtain the same information.” While Kang Jang-gyeom’s office requested only this year’s data, Choi Minhee’s office reportedly asked for records from June of last year, when the 22nd National Assembly convened.

Previously, during the audit period on the 18th, Chairperson Choi held her daughter’s wedding at Sarangjae in the National Assembly, sparking controversy over receiving floral wreaths and congratulatory money from audited agencies and companies. In response, Chairperson Choi decided to identify the list of those who gave congratulatory money and return it to the respective agencies and companies.

A representative from Choi Minhee’s office stated, “We became aware that Kang Jang-gyeom’s office had requested data submissions from agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction,” and added, “We made the data request to prepare for potential political attacks on other issues.” Regarding whether the request was made for refund purposes, the representative said, “It is completely unrelated,” and explained, “We are confirming and returning the items based on our own internal list.”

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