The People Power Party increased pressure for the resignation of Kim Min-seok, the prime minister candidate, on the 15th, amid allegations of financial transactions with illegal political fund providers.
Kim Yong-tae, the emergency response committee chairman, wrote on Facebook that "Candidate Kim claims to have borrowed 140 million won from 11 acquaintances in 2018, one of whom, Mr. Lee, worked as an auditor at the company of Mr. Kang, a long-time supporter of Candidate Kim."
He claimed, "A person in their 70s who works in Jeongeup lent 10 million won without collateral for seven years to Candidate Kim, who has no local ties."
He added, "11 people used the same type of promissory note at the same time. They followed the formalities of borrowing, but the substance of the funds remains unclear," and urged, "Candidate Kim must clarify the true owner of the money. That is the minimum responsibility of a public official."
He further stated, "I think of the person who misappropriated Gyeonggi Province credit cards, who covered lawyer fees, sent money to North Korea through SSANGBANGWOOL, and used others' money as if it were their own. Can such a prime minister exist under that president?"
Chairman Kim emphasized, "Candidate Kim must remember the standards they held others to during past confirmation hearings. Those standards must now apply equally to themselves."
Earlier, Rep. Joo Jin-woo, a member of the special committee for the candidate's confirmation, disclosed a financial contract that Candidate Kim signed with Mr. Lee, stating, "Mr. Lee has no local ties to Candidate Kim, and there is a 10-year age difference. It is unreasonable to have a relationship where one lends 10 million won without collateral for seven years," urging, "It must be clarified whether the financial reservoir is Mr. Kang, not Mr. Lee."
Spokesperson Kang Jeon-ae also released a commentary, stating, "The allegations against Candidate Kim's debt are evolving from a simple moral issue to an organized financial transaction suspicion using power," and questioned, "Can someone who has received dubious loan facilitation become the number two in the Republic of Korea's administration?"
Spokesperson Kang pointed out, "President Lee should answer directly. Is the plan to make the Republic of Korea a reservoir for judicial risks involving the higher officials of the government and the presidential office?" He urged, "Candidate Kim should stop deceiving the public and resign from the candidacy immediately."
Kim Dong-won, the spokesperson of the same party, also noted in a commentary, "Suspicious financial transactions have emerged, such as paying back money borrowed from creditors immediately after being nominated as prime minister," and pointed out, "Paying back the money just one day after the report came out is an acknowledgment of having engaged in questionable transactions."
He added, "If you wish for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, ponder carefully on what you need to do."
Rep. Kim Gi-hyun sarcastically remarked on Facebook about the allegation that Candidate Kim obtained a master's degree from Tsinghua University in China through improper means without attending classes, saying, "It was only possible if his avatar was in China, yet he somehow accomplished both obtaining the degree and running for mayor of Busan in 2010 simultaneously. It seems they have some kind of superpower transcending time and space."
Ban Joon-young, the opposition party's secretary of the special committee for the candidate's confirmation, pointed out on Facebook, "I have heard from the committee members that the submission of materials is not being adequately fulfilled," and added, "The usual confirmation schedule of two days seems insufficient. The prime minister candidate has too much to clarify."