FM nominee under growing suspicion of corruption
By Kim Rahn
Kang Kyung-wha
Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha is being embroiled by growing suspicions of corruption, casting gloom over the National Assembly’s approval for her nomination.
Some new findings were different from what Cheong Wa Dae initially explained, causing controversy over her false explanation.
When nominating Kang May 21, the presidential office admitted her false residence registration and asked for understanding from the Assembly and the public, saying it picked her despite the irregularity.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, Kang’s first daughter needed to change schools from the U.S. to South Korea in 2000 and she registered a fake residence, which was actually her relative’s, so that the daughter could attend a school of her choice, Ewha Girls’ High School.
But it was found Monday that the residence did not belong to Kang’s relative but the school’s then-principal, surnamed Sim.
It was also known that her first and second daughters paid 2.3 million won each in gift tax for a house, which they had bought in 2014 with their mother’s money, belatedly May 23, two days after Kang was nominated. They were supposed to pay the tax within three months after the purchase.
When Cheong Wa Dae first announced the nomination, public sentiment was positive toward the first female foreign minister nominee despite the false residence registration issue because such a move for their children’s education has been rampant by parents in Korea’s education-obsessed society.
The situation worsened after her explanation about the issue was proven false and the new allegations have emerged. Kang is now embroiled in two of the five corrupt practices which President Moon Jae-in had pledged to consider in appointing ranking officials _ military service evasion, real estate speculation, tax evasion, false residence registration and academic plagiarism.
The Assembly is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Kang early next month, but the hearing may face turbulence as opposition parties are against her.
“She now has an additional allegation of lying, which is the most serious flaw for a high-ranking official,” said Rep. Chung Woo-taik, the acting head of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. “I’d like to ask Moon and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea if they really believe the Assembly can hold a normal confirmation hearing for such a nominee.”
Kang has not answered any questions from journalists about the allegations, saying she would explain at the hearing.