Kim Namguk Replies to Personnel Recommendation Text from Ruling Party Lawmaker: "I Will Recommend to Hunsik and Hyunji"

News Pim captures text exchange between Moon Jinseok and Kim Namguk during National Assembly session
Moon Jinseok requests recommendation for university alumnus as head of Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association
Kim Namguk: "I will recommend him

The contents of a conversation in which Kim Namguk, Secretary for Digital Communication at the Presidential Office, responded to a personnel solicitation by saying, "I will recommend him to Hunsik and Hyunji," have been exposed to the media. The individuals mentioned by Secretary Kim are presumed to be Kang Hunsik, Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, and Kim Hyunji, First Deputy Chief of Staff. On December 2, NewsPim released a photo, stating, "Assemblyman Moon Jinseok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, exchanged text messages with Kim Namguk, Secretary for Public Digital Communication at the Presidential Office, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul."

Moon Jinseok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, exchanged text messages with Kim Namguk, Secretary for Public Digital Communication at the Presidential Secretariat, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 2. The message contained a request to recommend Hong Seongbeom, Executive Director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, as chairman. Moon said, "If I recommend him, Chief Secretary Kang Hunsik will oppose it, so please try to recommend him." In response, Secretary Kim replied, "Yes, brother, I will recommend him to Hyung Kang Hunsik and Nuna Kim Hyeonji!" NewsPim, General News Agency, provided this on December 2, 2025.

The text message contained a request from Assemblyman Moon to recommend Hong Seongbeom, Executive Director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), as chairman. Assemblyman Moon said, "Namguk, Hong Seongbeom is our junior from Chung-Ang University and served as a spokesperson when the President ran for governor." He continued, "He seems qualified to serve as chairman of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, so please recommend him," and added, "If I recommend him, Chief Secretary Kang Hunsik will oppose it, so please try to recommend him instead." In response, Secretary Kim replied, "Yes, brother, I will recommend him to Hunsik and Hyunji Kim!"

On that day, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed next year's budget bill totaling 728 trillion won. Assemblyman Moon was seen in the plenary chamber sending a Telegram message to Secretary Kim, a moment that was captured by the camera.

Moon Jinseok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, exchanged text messages with Kim Namguk, Secretary for Public Digital Communication at the Presidential Secretariat, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 2. The message contained a request to recommend Hong Seongbeom, Executive Director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, as chairman. Moon said, "If I recommend him, Chief Secretary Kang Hunsik will oppose it, so please recommend him instead." In response, Secretary Kim replied, "Yes, brother, I will recommend him to Hunsik and Hyunji Kim!" Photo by News Pim, General News Agency, December 2, 2025

Assemblyman Moon and Secretary Kim are alumni of Chung-Ang University, with Moon being the senior. It appears that Assemblyman Moon contacted Secretary Kim to recommend his fellow alumnus, Mr. Hong, for the position of chairman of a private organization. During the Presidential Office reorganization in September, Secretary Kim was placed directly under Chief Secretary Kang. Mr. Hong previously served as the head of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. When Secretary Kim said, "Director Hong Seongbeom!" Assemblyman Moon replied, "That's right, please look after him well^^."

After the photo was made public, the opposition parties immediately protested. In particular, there was renewed scrutiny of Chief Kim Hyunji, who had been at the center of political debate during the recent parliamentary audit regarding her attendance at the National Assembly. On December 3, Assemblyman Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party strongly criticized the situation on his social media, calling it "a flagrant example exposing the reality of personnel manipulation under the Lee Jaemyung administration." Assemblyman Joo stated, "The rumors about Kim Hyunji's influence have been confirmed," and pointed out, "The position of chairman of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association is not one in which Moon Jinseok, Kim Namguk, or Kim Hyunji should be involved. It is not a presidential appointment, but a position determined by private member companies." Assemblyman Lee Junseok of the Reform New Party also commented on his social media, "A personnel solicitation in the middle of the National Assembly's budget deliberation?" and added, "Who exactly is Hyunji Kim?"

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