Rep. Kim Hong-gul's Office: "Property Underreporting Due to Secretary and Accounting Staff Mistake"... "No Impact on Election Outcome"

by Choi Sukjin

Published 23 Nov.2020 17:23(KST)

Independent lawmaker Kim Hong-gul. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Independent lawmaker Kim Hong-gul, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act by underreporting assets under his spouse's name, explained in court that the issue arose from mistakes made by his secretary and accounting staff who assisted with the asset declaration.

At the first trial held on the 23rd at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Kim Mi-ri), Kim's attorney argued, "There were several errors made during the initial asset declaration, but these did not affect the proportional representation ranking, which is decisive for election."

Kim, the third son of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, was brought to trial for failing to report commercial land under his spouse's name worth approximately 1 billion KRW before the general election, and for omitting a total of 710 million KRW in deposits for commercial and apartment properties under his spouse's name from the list of debts.

On this day, the attorney explained, "The secretary and female accounting staff of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, where Kim served as the representative standing chairman, assisted with the asset declaration. Their lack of experience led to mistakes, but there was no intent."

Regarding the commercial building, it was explained that the use was changed to commercial in 2008, but the secretary mistakenly reported the official land price from 2007 before the change. As for the deposits, Kim's side maintains that they did not recognize them as debts and that there was no intent.

The attorney also claimed, "The defendant was brought in as a proportional representative due to his special status as the son of former President Kim and his role in the Honam region," arguing that the incorrect asset declaration did not affect Kim's election as a proportional representative.

Kim also appeared in court for the first time at this trial.