"Kim Seung-won Did Not Submit DUI Records to Verification Committee During General Election"

[Anchor]

It has been belatedly revealed that candidate Kim Seung-won was previously fined 700,000 won for drunk driving during his career as a lawyer. However, it has been confirmed that related materials, including the judgment record, were not submitted to the Democratic Party's nomination screening process during the last 22nd general election.

This is an exclusive report by reporter Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

Ahead of the last 22nd general election, the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Verification Committee promised a more thorough screening than ever before.

[Kim Byung-kee / Chairman of the Democratic Party Candidate Verification Committee (Nov. 16, 2023): Through fair and resolute verification. We will verify more strictly and thoroughly than any other election.]

When applicants for preliminary candidacy submitted their application documents, they were instructed to "attach details on all criminal and investigative backgrounds," and it was emphasized to "include all contents, including crimes with fines of 1 million won or less, as well as non-prosecution dispositions."

Afterwards, even a checklist was provided, notifying them that "even if a long time has passed, judgment documents or summary order documents must be attached."

At the time, one preliminary candidate explained, "Because the party told me to submit it unconditionally, I went directly to the court to issue and submit a judgment document for a drunk driving fine from the 1990s."

However, it was confirmed through SBS reporting that candidate Kim, who was a freshman lawmaker at the time, did not submit related materials such as the judgment document showing he was fined 700,000 won for drunk driving in 2008 to the Democratic Party's verification committee.

Although candidate Kim was caught for drunk driving once, meaning he did not fall under the Democratic Party's disqualification criteria for drunk driving at the time, the verification committee screening itself could not take place because he failed to submit the drunk driving-related documents in the first place.

Regarding the suspicion that related materials were not submitted, candidate Kim's side stated, "As we were preparing for the election campaign, the working-level staff handled the preparation of documents related to the nomination, so we do not know the exact details," adding, "We understand that we submitted all documents requested by the party in a manner that does not violate laws and regulations."

(Camera Reporter: Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editor: Lee Seung-jin, Design: Han Heung-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.