Latest news with #KimMin-seok
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Slush fund past dogs prime minister nominee
Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok is facing growing calls from the main opposition party to withdraw from his nomination over political slush fund scandals that occurred in the 2000s. The four-term liberal lawmaker, who was nominated for prime minister by President Lee Jae Myung on June 4, was convicted by the country's top court in 2005 of violating the Political Funds Act by receiving 200 million won ($146,500) in illegal funds from conglomerate SK Group in 2002. He received the funds during his campaign for Seoul mayor as the candidate for the Millennium Democratic Party, the main liberal party at the time. The Supreme Court in 2005 sentenced Kim to eight months in prison, two years of probation and the forfeiture of 200 million won, finding him guilty of violating the Political Funds Act. Additionally, the Supreme Court in 2010 found him guilty in a separate political slush fund case, in which he received illegal funds worth a combined 720 million won from three of his aides in 2007. He was fined 6 million won and forfeited 720 million won for violating the Political Funds Act again. The main opposition People Power Party has recently ramped up its calls for Kim to withdraw his nomination. The main opposition members of the National Assembly's special committee on personnel hearing, including People Power Party Rep. Bae Joon-young, claimed Tuesday that "candidate (Kim) and the Democratic Party of Korea are not cooperative" with the preparations for the prime minister nominee's upcoming parliamentary hearing. The committee announced Tuesday afternoon that Kim's confirmation hearing has been scheduled for June 24 to 25. The 13-member committee, tasked with handling the nominee's confirmation hearing, is formed of seven Democratic Party lawmakers, five People Power Party lawmakers and one non-parliamentary member. The People Power Party members of the committee urged Kim and the ruling party to submit evidence and summon witnesses tied to multiple accusations surrounding Kim, including his political slush fund case. People Power Party spokesperson Ho Jun-seok even proposed launching a special counsel investigation into the charges in a Monday commentary. Kim has repeatedly brushed off his court convictions as mere 'allegations.' "The targeted investigation (against me by the prosecution) did not end the first time," Kim wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. The post echoes his Facebook post shared the previous day, where he wrote, "the Political Funds Act case is essentially a targeted investigation of me by a political prosecution — it is a targeted investigation that does not even make clear who demanded the political funding and why." Kim said that his party at the time asked for corporate donations without his knowledge. President Lee, meanwhile, downplayed the scandal surrounding Kim when speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Canada for the G7 summit early Tuesday. "I asked Kim in person and he explained that they were mere allegations, which he can sufficiently explain at the confirmation hearing," Lee told reporters. Besides the political slush fund scandals, Kim is accused of abusing his power as a lawmaker to aid his son's extracurricular projects and help him gain admission to a US university. Critics are also questioning the master's degree Kim claims to have received from Tsinghua University in China in 2010, which was the same year he ran for mayor of Busan and failed.
UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
South Korean PM candidate vows 'inclusion' amid opposition calls for withdrawal
South Korean Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok speaks at a briefing for foreign media in downtown Seoul on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI SEOUL, June 17 (UPI) -- South Korean prime minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Tuesday rebuffed calls for his withdrawal by the opposition party over past political funding scandals and vowed to pursue "the politics of inclusion" in a deeply polarized climate. Kim, who was nominated for the prime minister's office by recently elected President Lee Jae-myung, is expected to undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing next week. The conservative opposition People Power Party is calling for him to step aside, however, citing convictions for receiving illegal political donations in 2002 and 2008. He is also facing additional allegations of illegal fundraising as well as accusations of nepotism. The 61-year-old four-term lawmaker has said the charges are politically motivated and on Tuesday vowed to work with the opposition even as his liberal Democratic Party holds a large majority in the National Assembly. "I understand sufficiently that they are either criticizing or opposing my nomination for prime minister," Kim told foreign media at a briefing in downtown Seoul. "However, even if I understand their opposition, that doesn't mean that legal issues that do not exist come to exist." "Of course, I will engage in politics based on the absolute majority that we hold in the National Assembly," Kim added. "But at the same time, I am determined to pursue the politics of inclusion." Kim was a key adviser for Lee Jae-myung's successful campaign in the June 3 snap election caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt. The opposition People Power Party has stepped up its calls for Kim to withdraw in recent days, saying that suspicions regarding the nominee are mounting. "The solution is simple and clear," PPP spokesman Kwon Dong-wook said in a statement Monday. "Kim's voluntary resignation is the answer." In a Facebook post Monday, Kim said that his past convictions stemmed from a "targeted investigation of the political prosecution." "It is a targeted investigation case that is unclear even about who demanded the political funds and why," he wrote. On Tuesday, Kim said he would "definitely address all of the issues" during his confirmation hearing and would do his best to persuade the opposition. "Former President Kim Dae-jung used to say that you need to be patient with criticism coming from the opposition, but if the criticism is incorrect, you need to persuade them," Kim said. "I will be more patient than what would probably be expected by the current opposition," he said. "And I am determined to be very persuasive with them."
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
PM nominee stresses stronger Seoul-Tokyo ties in meeting with Japanese PM adviser
Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Monday expressed his hope for deepening relations between South Korea and Japan during a meeting with a high-ranking Japanese official. "This year is particularly meaningful for both countries as it marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. I hope the horizon of South Korea-Japan cooperation expands even further," Kim said. He made the remarks while meeting in Seoul with Akihisa Nagashima, special adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, emphasizing that Japan is a key cooperation partner." The two officials exchanged views on the future direction of bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it. They also affirmed their shared understanding of the importance of bolstering trilateral security cooperation among Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Prime Minister nominee denies illegal political funding allegations
Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Monday denied allegations that he received illegal political funds during his campaign for Seoul mayor in 2002. The case centers on allegations that he received 200 million won ($146,500) in illegal political funds from SK Group. Kim was convicted of the charge and sentenced to a suspended prison term in addition to a forfeit of 200 million won. "The essence of my Political Funds Act case is the targeted investigation of the political prosecution," the nominee wrote on his Facebook page. "It is a targeted investigation case that is unclear even about who demanded the political funds and why." Kim claimed his party asked for corporate donations for his campaign without his knowledge but he was later held responsible for its failure to issue a receipt. The businesses involved "were sorry toward me" afterward, he added. Kim also denied allegations that he introduced a bill in the National Assembly that was written by his son as a high school club activity, and the son later included it on his application to Cornell University. On allegations that his son received special favors in the process of winning an internship at the University of Hong Kong, Kim said he received no outside help. (Yonhap)
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Change in S. Korean government leaves foreign domestic worker programme in limbo
The programme drew concerns ranging from job scope and oversight to worker protection and cost. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SEOUL - South Korea's pilot programme for overseas domestic workers is now hanging in the balance, with no clear path forward after months of delays, labour disputes, and a new administration that had voiced skepticism about the system in the past. The Ministry of Employment and Labour had pledged to finalise a long-term version for the programme by mid-2025, but nothing has been put forward. Vice-Labour Minister and acting Minister Kim Min-seok said on June 15 that it 'won't be easy' to expand beyond the pilot programme within June . Launched in September 2024, the initiative aimed to ease pressure on working parents by hiring 100 trained domestic workers from the Philippines to assist with child care and housework in Seoul. It was framed as a response to South Korea's record-low birthrate and the growing strain on dual-income families. The project gained support from former president Yoon Suk Yeol, but it now faces uncertainty following his removal in April. His successor, Mr Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, assumed office on June 4, representing a party that has consistently raised concerns about the initiative. Filipino caretaker system face criticism over cost, labour issues From the beginning, the programme drew concerns ranging from job scope and oversight to worker protection and cost. South Korea is a signatory to international labour agreements that require countries to give foreign workers the same minimum wage rights as Korean workers. That pushed the initial the service fee to 13,940 won per hour (S$13), including the minimum wage, insurance and other mandatory costs. As of 2025, that rate has risen to 16,800 won. Critics argue the high service fees means the programme is only accessible to high-income households. According to city data, 43 per cent of applications came from just three of Seoul's wealthiest districts: Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa. The city government has also faced mounting issues from workers themselves. Some reported delayed wages, while others said they were asked to perform duties not covered by their contracts, such as pet care, English tutoring, or visiting employers' extended families. It was alleged last week that the two workers deported for leaving their posts were subject to severe exploitation during their stay here. Allegations included excessive working hours and the authorities' refusal to address the issue. The ministry denied the claims in an official statement. In May, Vice-Labor Minister Kim acknowledged the challenges, saying satisfaction among participating families was high at 84 per cent, but wage issues and unclear employment boundaries remained unresolved. Labour groups, including the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, have called for a pause and full review of the programme. 'There are still serious issues with delayed wages, unclear job descriptions, and a lack of proper oversight,' the group said after the government announced a one-year extension of the pilot in February. In 2023, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee So-young also criticised the underlying logic of such programmes, arguing that foreign domestic workers haven't improved birthrates in places like Hong Kong and Singapore. Despite the political headwinds, the domestic workers currently in Korea are expected to stay because their employment permits have been extended through early 2026. 'Even if this programme ends, those with renewed contracts can keep working as domestic helpers, and in principle, they may be reassigned to other service jobs like hotels or restaurants within the permitted sectors,' a Labour Ministry official said. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
