Jin Joong-kwon Questions Lee Junseok Sending 500,000 Won to Choi Minhee: "It Feels So Random"

Lee Junseok Recently Had Congratulatory Money Returned by Choi Minhee
People Power Party Points Out "Choi Minhee's Conflict of Interest and Abuse of Authority"

Jin Joong-kwon, Specially Appointed Professor at Kwangwoon University, has raised questions regarding the recent controversy over the wedding of Choi Minhee, Chairperson of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, specifically addressing Assemblyman Lee Junseok, who recently stated that he received his congratulatory money back. On the 29th, Professor Jin wrote on his social media, "But why did Lee Junseok send 500,000 won to Choi Minhee? Even if it was a situation where he had to send it, could he really bring himself to do so?"

Previously, Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, reported on the 27th that he had received back the congratulatory money he had given for the wedding of Chairperson Choi's daughter. In response, Professor Jin commented, "It feels so out of the blue," adding, "The world is too vast, too complex, and too subtle for my small mind to comprehend."

Jin Joong-kwon, Specially Appointed Professor at Kwangwoon University. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Meanwhile, Choi Minhee’s side explained that the message sent to her aides listing the names of those who gave congratulatory money for her daughter’s wedding-which was reported in the media-was an instruction to return congratulatory money received from institutions and companies. In the message, next to a name presumed to be Lee’s, ‘500,000 won’ was written.

Additionally, it was belatedly revealed that Choi’s daughter had indicated her marriage on her social media in August of last year. The People Power Party commented, "Was the wedding scheduled to coincide with the National Assembly audit period, when the ruling party chairperson leads the standing committee?" Choi Eunseok, Chief Spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "If the suspicions are true, this would be an unprecedented power-related wedding scandal, turning the National Assembly audit system into a channel for private monetary exchanges."

Choi Minhee, Chairperson of the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Choi Eunseok further stated, "The controversy over congratulatory money for Choi Minhee’s daughter’s wedding is spreading rapidly. Yet, she refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing in using her public authority for private gain and shows not a hint of remorse," adding, "This is the epitome of selfishness. The blatant behavior of Choi Minhee and the Democratic Party’s complicity is fueling public outrage."

He continued, "Choi Minhee held her daughter’s wedding at Sarangjae in the National Assembly during the audit period and committed an outrageous act by accepting large sums of congratulatory money from interested parties, including audited institutions and companies," adding, "Receiving money from the heads of public institutions and direct or indirect stakeholders is a clear conflict of interest, an abuse of authority, and a criminal act."