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| Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), center, his wife Kim Hye-kyung, right, and DPK Chairman Rep. Song young-gil, left, greet people at Yongsan Station in Seoul, Jan. 31, the eve of Lunar New Year's Day. Courtesy of the DPK election committee |
By Jung Da-min
The ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is trying to defend its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung who are embroiled in allegations of power abuse, but the party's efforts have turned out to be counterproductive, instead, stirring up further controversy.
The abuse of power allegations surrounding Lee and Kim came to light in late December when the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP) filed a complaint against Lee, Kim and a former official of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government surnamed Bae, claiming that Lee, a former Gyeonggi Province governor, hired Bae to have her carry out secretarial duties for his wife in violation of government regulations.
In late January, local broadcaster SBS reported that an official from the secretarial department at the office of the provincial government had been repeatedly ordered by his superior in general affairs, or Bae, to run Kim's personal errands, such as purchasing meat from a butcher, sushi and other foods or cooking ingredients and deliver them to Kim's home in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
When asked about the allegations against Kim that she ordered public officials at the local government to run her personal errands when Lee was governor, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil said the public officials were selected for the positions in special services from the beginning of their career, so it should have been understood that they were carrying out usual secretarial duties.
"Public officials selected for positions in special services usually work like secretaries and there are times when my secretary purchases medicine for me," Song said during a radio interview with local broadcaster CBS, Monday, referring to allegations that Kim ordered public officials to collect medicine for her.
However, Song's remarks immediately faced a strong backlash from the PPP, which said the allegations of Kim, if found to be true, are in violation of the relevant government guidelines on protocol for spouses of local government heads. According to the government guidelines, spouses of local government heads cannot have public officials run their personal errands or support personal activities.
In addition, Kim could face another charge of violating the medical law, if the allegations that she had public officials use their own prescriptions to acquire medicine for Kim's personal use turn out to be true.
On Feb.3, PPP again filed a complaint against Lee, Kim and Bae for violating relevant laws regarding their alleged abuse of power during Lee's tenure as Gyeonggi governor. The case has since been referred to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.
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| Members of the main opposition conservative People Power Party stand before the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul's Seocho District, Feb.3, as they file a complaint against Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, his wife Kim Hye-kyung, and a former Gyeonggi Province official surnamed Bae for violating relevant laws regarding their alleged abuse of power during Lee's tenure as Gyeonggi governor. Joint Press Corps |
In addition to the DPK chief, Hyun Geun-taek, Lee's election committee spokesman, drew flak for questioning the integrity of the official's revelations.
"The male official was appointed for a separate position for secretarial duties from the beginning, introduced by Bae. They had known each other from before his appointment and their relationship is not like those between a reporter and a source. When he recorded (phone calls with Bae) and captured (text messages with Bae) during eight months out of the entire period of his nine months of working with Bae, who he had known from before, how should we view the matter?," Hyun wrote on Facebook, Monday.
Hyun said the male official could have asked to leave the position if he really wanted to protest against unreasonable orders. Hyun also criticized the male official indirectly, saying the former official is currently raising donation from members of the public by announcing his account number, which could be seen as the former official using the issue for his personal benefit.
Hyun's remarks have also brought criticism from the PPP, which said that it could be an additional attack against the former official who already suffered under the illegal abuse of power.
Criticism is also rising in online communities where participants have said the DPK's side should apologize over the matter rather than issuing excuses or casting blame upon the former official who reported the case to the media.
Lee and Kim have apologized for the allegations saying they failed to draw a line between personal and official business and did not stop such behavior, but said they were not aware that Bae was ordering her junior staff to run personal errands for the former governor couple. Lee had served as Gyeonggi Province governor since July 2018 but stepped down from the post in late October last year to enter the presidential race.
As the controversy continues to grow, Lee said on Feb. 3 that he will be audited by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.
On Wednesday, Kim held a press conference at the DPK headquarters on Seoul's Yeouido, to give a statement over the controversies.
"I will cooperate with the investigation (by the prosecution) and audit (by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government) and will take due responsibility once the findings are delivered" Kim said.
Kim said she has known Bae since the campaigning period of 2010 Seongnam mayoral election where Lee was elected and that she had met with the former official who reported the case to the media, having been introduced by Bae, but only as a once-off after Lee became the Gyeonggi Province governor.
