Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok said on the 13th regarding the suspicion of receiving illegal political funds, "It is fine to call anyone from the prosecution related to my case as witnesses for the hearing."
The nominee Kim met with reporters at the Financial Supervisory Service training center in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, noting, "It would be good if the prosecution's past work is sufficiently revealed during this hearing."
He also said, "There are various issues raised in the media regarding the personnel hearing, but I will express them in an appropriate manner after the price briefing is over," adding, "I believe all questions will be resolved."
He added, "I will post relevant writings so that the public can understand around Sunday (15th)."
The nominee Kim was sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and a surcharge of 200 million won for violating the Political Fund Act in 2004. He was accused of receiving 200 million won in illegal political funds from SK Group. In 2009, he was also sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and a surcharge of 720 million won for receiving over 720 million won in illegal political funds. The sentence was reduced to a fine of 6 million won on appeal, but the surcharge was maintained.
According to the personnel hearing request submitted by the nominee Kim to the National Assembly, he reported a total of 215.04 million won in assets, including his own and his spouse's. Among Kim's assets was a "debt" of -140 million won. It was revealed that Kim has not repaid this money even though the repayment deadline has passed for over two years. Notably, it is reported that among those who lent money to Kim was an individual who previously provided him with illegal political funds.