The People Power Party is ratcheting up its attacks on Presidential Office First Executive Office Chief Kim Hyeon-ji, who has been at the center of controversy as a "shadow power broker" after failing to appear at the National Assembly audit. The party aims to summon Chief Kim, known as one of President Lee Jae-myung's closest aides, to the legislature to raise suspicions. As her academic background and work history remain unknown, it also plans to introduce what it calls the "Kim Hyeon-ji prevention law."
Floor leader Song Eon-seok of the People Power Party said at the "standing committee chairs and secretaries meeting" held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 1st, "As controversy over attendance at the audit flared, (the presidential office) abruptly reassigned (Chief Kim) from secretary for general affairs to chief of the executive office," adding, "By any measure, this is a 'Kim Hyeon-ji bulletproof' personnel move meant to wrap things up tight."
He went on, "She may have been appointed executive office chief now, but until just before the audit she oversaw personnel and budget issues at the Yongsan Presidential Office as secretary for general affairs, so it is only proper that she appear for the audit and answer lawmakers' questions about the process so far," adding, "We once again demand that Secretary Hyeon-ji appear at the audit."
Questions were also raised about her academic background, with allegations that she is exercising "gatekeeper power." A professor from the university Chief Kim graduated from was appointed head of the Korea Forest Service. While serving as secretary for general affairs, Chief Kim was known to have overseen personnel matters for administrators in the Presidential Office and to have been involved in the government's personnel vetting process.
Rep. Kim Jang-gyeom said on Facebook that day, "(Chief Kim) is called the president's shadow power broker, with even her hometown and academic credentials unknown and shrouded in secrecy," adding, "First Executive Office Chief Kim Hyeon-ji graduated from the Department of Environmental Landscape Architecture at Shingu University in Seongnam, and former Shingu University Environmental Landscape Architecture professor Kim In-ho, appointed last month as Korea Forest Service chief, is said to be her mentor."
He continued, "If this is true, it is only natural to suspect that First Executive Office Chief Kim Hyeon-ji 'recommended the Korea Forest Service chief based on a personal connection, and as the rumors say, her clout is indeed strong,'" adding, "Chief Kim should not dodge the National Assembly audit just because she changed posts, but should appear confidently and explain the so-called "V0" controversy."
The People Power Party plans to push an amendment to the Public Service Ethics Act dubbed the "Kim Hyeon-ji prevention law." The amendment would require senior public officials subject to asset disclosure to file basic identifying information, including age, place of birth, academic background, and work history. Violations would carry administrative fines of up to 10 million won.
Rep. Park Soo-young of the People Power Party, who announced plans to introduce the bill, said, "To satisfy the public's right to know, basic personal information of senior public officials at grade 1 and above needs to be disclosed," adding, "We must prevent a 'Chief Kim attendance fiasco' in which even appearing at the National Assembly audit is refused to avoid disclosure of personal details."