Leaked Recording Fuels Controversy Over Kim Keon-hee’sAlleged Nomination Interference

A leaked recording has been released, suggesting that First Lady Kim Keon-hee was involved in influencing nominations for the upcoming April general election through the People’s Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu. In response, Lee dismissed the claim, calling it a “blatant lie.”

“Lee Cheol-gyu is working on the nomination committee on behalf of the First Lady,” said Kim Dae-nam, a former senior administrator at the presidential office, in a recorded phone call with a reporter from Voice of Seoul, which was released by Voice of Seoul on YouTube on September 23. “He’s scrambling, bending over backward, just to get Lee Won-mo(former presidential personnel secretary) a National Assembly seat to stay in the First Lady’s good graces.”

Kim had previously competed against Lee for the nomination in the Gyeonggi Yongin Gap district but was unsuccessful.

Kim also remarked, “What’s so special about Lee Won-mo? Yet, they’re treating him like he’s some kind of sacred figure,” adding, “Because if Lee Won-mo’s nomination goes wrong, Lee Cheol-gyu is finished.” When the reporter commented, “It seems like Mrs. Kim Keon-hee is heavily involved in the nominations,” Kim responded, “She is. The one facilitating it is Lee Cheol-gyu, and Yongin Gap district is one example.”

Earlier, on February 26, the PPP’s nomination committee had strategically nominated former Secretary Lee as a priority candidate (strategic nomination) for the Gyeonggi YonginGap district. The district has been classified as a rare stronghold for conservatives in Gyeonggi Province, with the conservative party winning in three consecutive general elections since 2012. Lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk, who was a member of the nomination committee at the time, stated, “The priority recommendation was based on the candidates’ competitiveness and various other considerations.”

However, Lee, being a former prosecutor and referred to as Yong-haek-gwan (a key figure in the Yongsan presidential office), has led some to view his nomination as reflecting the will of President Yoon.

The former secretary’s spouse, identified only by the surname Shin, sparked controversy in July 2022 when she accompanied President Yoon on an overseas trip as a civilian listed under “other entourage.” Shin, who is known to have personal ties to President Yoon and First Lady Kim, was accused of acting as a de facto staff member for the First Lady, assisting with her schedule during the trip.

In the call, Lee asserted, “The claim that Mrs. Kim tried to secure the nomination for Lee Won-mo is a blatant lie and completely untrue. As far as I know, Yongsan’s preference was for Lee not to run.” He further added, “If they wanted to give him a district, why wouldn’t they offer Gangnam (where Lee originally intended to run) instead of pushing him to Yongin?”

When asked whether he had been in contact with Mrs. Kim at the time, Lee responded, “She doesn’t discuss nominations. I had no communication with her whatsoever.” He further dismissed claims involving Kim Young-sun, stating, “That is also a blatant lie. If Mrs. Kim had even hinted, ‘please take an interest’ or ‘can you do something,’ how could that person have been nominated like that?”

Lee also criticized former administrator Kim, calling him “delusional,” and added, “Isn’t it that if he and Lee Myung-soo (a reporter) conspire to fabricate a crime and falsely accuse others, they think it will somehow work out in their favor?”

The previous day, Kim had also filed for an injunction against Voice of Seoul, stating through his lawyer that he “intentionally conveyed false information related to the nomination process during his call with Voice of Seoul reporter Lee Myung-soo in early 2024,” and that he “was neither aware of the nomination details alleged by Voice of Seoul nor in a position to know them.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.