A conversation in which Moon Jin-seok, the Democratic Party of Korea's senior deputy floor leader for operations, asked Kim Nam-guk, the presidential office's digital communications secretary, for personnel solicitation has been captured, stirring controversy. The People Power Party urged an explanation over the controversy, saying it was "highly inappropriate."
According to political circles on the 3rd, a Telegram message that Moon, the senior deputy floor leader, exchanged with Secretary Kim the previous day (on the 2nd) on the floor of the National Assembly during the handling of next year's budget bill was captured by a media camera.
According to a News Pim report, Moon, the senior deputy floor leader, recommended to Secretary Kim that Hong Seong-beom, who served as Deputy Minister of the association, be appointed as president of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Associatio (KAMA). Moon said, "Nam-guk, (Hong Seong-beom) is our junior from Chung-Ang University and also served as Spokesperson when the president ran for governor," adding, "He seems qualified to serve as president of the Automobile Manufacturers Association, so please, younger brother, give him a recommendation." He also said, "If I recommend him, Deputy Minister Kang Hoon-sik will oppose it, so you, younger brother, try recommending him."
In response, Secretary Kim replied, "Yes, hyung, I'll recommend him to Hoon-sik hyung and Hyun-ji noona!" The "Hyun-ji noona" appears to refer to Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential office's first secretary to the president. The first secretary to the president has no authority to be involved in personnel.
The People Power Party called the conversation between the two "a highly inappropriate matter" and demanded an immediate explanation from the presidential office and the Democratic Party.
Choi Eun-seok, the People Power Party's senior deputy floor spokesperson, met with reporters at the National Assembly after the plenary session ended that day and said, "Secretary Kim, who received personnel solicitation, should resign immediately," adding, "In addition, Secretary Kim should promptly reveal who 'Hyun-ji noona' is." He went on to say, "Representative Moon should also immediately explain and take responsibility," criticizing, "For making personnel solicitation like this on the floor of the National Assembly, an explanation and corresponding measures are necessary."
The presidential office issued a position saying, "We inform you that a stern warning has been issued, as part of public service discipline, to the internal staff member who inappropriately conveyed inaccurate information."