Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is said to have decided to keep Moon Jin-seok, senior deputy floor leader for floor operations, who is embroiled in a "personnel solicitation" controversy.
Kim Hyun-jung, the Democratic Party spokesperson for the floor, met with reporters after the party's floor counsels meeting on the morning of the 9th and said, "Floor leader Kim seems to believe that Senior Secretary Moon processed this budget bill within the statutory deadline for the first time in five years and has played many roles, so Moon's role needs to continue," adding, "Under that framework, I think the decision on his position will be made."
Moon came under the spotlight of the personnel solicitation controversy after it became known that on the 2nd, on the floor of the National Assembly, he sent a Telegram message to then-presidential office digital communications secretary Kim Nam-kuk asking him to recommend a Chung-Ang University alumnus for the presidency of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Associatio (KAMA).
Kim resigned to take responsibility, but Moon has left his position to the discretion of the floor leadership. Regarding this, floor leader Kim is said to have appealed to lawmakers at the policy caucus on the 8th, saying, "Senior Secretary Moon has many achievements, so please trust that he can continue to work."
With the presidential office announcing on the 7th the results of its own audit that "personnel solicitation did not actually take place," the Democratic Party also appears to have decided not to further inflame the issue of Moon's position. However, the People Power Party is expected to continue its offensive. The People Power Party the day before filed a complaint alleging abuse of authority and violation of the anti-graft law against presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, presidential first secretary to the president's spouse Kim Hyun-ji, Senior Secretary Moon, and former presidential office secretary for public digital communications Kim Nam-kuk in connection with the personnel solicitation controversy.