"Allegations of Accounting Irregularities Conveyed" ... "Gossip from Cheong Wa Dae's Perspective"

[Anchor]

Although former Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won has stepped down voluntarily, the fallout continues over a petition submitted to Cheong Wa Dae by his former aide. The former aide told SBS that a total of five documents were delivered to Cheong Wa Dae. These included allegations of accounting irregularities in the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter, which Representative Kim previously led.

Ha Jeongyeon reports.

[Reporter]

Person A, a former aide to Democratic Party Representative Kim Seung-won, who withdrew his nomination for justice minister, told SBS on September 21 that they had delivered a petition containing allegations against Representative Kim to Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, on September 17.

That was the day the National Assembly's confirmation hearing report on Representative Kim was adopted under the leadership of the Democratic Party, and the day before President Lee Jae-myung's press conference.

A said, "At around 11:10 a.m. on September 17, I sent five document files via Telegram to Senior Secretary Hong, including the petition, a letter to the president, and a compilation of alleged accounting irregularities at the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter."

The petition and letters, totaling 13 pages and written separately by A and another former aide, contained allegations of sexual harassment at a drinking party involving Representative Kim, additional allegations of drunk driving, verbal abuse toward aides, and accounting irregularities.

A also said that the primary reason for raising the issue was the so-called "payback suspicion"—allegations that the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter, then led by Representative Kim, paid some party officials an additional 1 to 2 million won on top of their base salary and then received it back into a separate account to use for other purposes.

On the afternoon of September 18, the day after delivering the petition and the day before Representative Kim voluntarily stepped down.

A also stated that they met with Representative Kim at the lawmaker's request and demanded his resignation, but Kim refused.

However, regarding the "accounting irregularity allegations," a key Democratic Party official told SBS, "We checked at the party level, but found that Representative Kim did not spend anything for personal use," adding, "An investigation by the National Election Commission is underway, and we are waiting for the results."

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Yu-jung gave the following response on a radio program on September 21 when asked whether a petition had been submitted to Cheong Wa Dae:

[Kang Yu-jung / Senior Spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae (KBS Radio 'Jeongyeok Sisa') : Since personnel authority regarding nominee Kim Seung-won no longer remains, other stories are 'gossip' from Cheong Wa Dae's perspective.]

Regarding the petition, Kim's side maintains the position that the allegations are "contrary to fact, exaggerated, or contain errors."

Even after Democratic Party Representative Kim Seung-won's failed bid for justice minister, the fallout continues to intensify over the additional allegations raised by his former aides.

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Choi Jin-hwa | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.