Seoul: Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon on Thursday called again for first lady Kim Keon Hee to withdraw from public activities following the party’s wins in crucial by-elections the previous day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han of the People Power Party (PPP) also reiterated his call for a presidential office reshuffle to remove those considered close to Kim and exercising undue influence on state affairs. During a party Supreme Council meeting, Han emphasized, “First lady Kim Keon Hee should refrain from public activities in keeping with her promise during the presidential election. The people’s worries and concerns must be resolved once and for all this time.” The PPP won two out of four seats up for grabs in Wednesday’s by-elections – those of the chiefs of Busan’s Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County – delivering what was considered a show of public confidence in Han’s leadership amid his stated commitment to getting to the bottom of controversies surrounding the first lady.
Kim has fa
ced accusations of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, illegally accepting a luxury bag, and interfering with the PPP’s candidate nominations ahead of last April’s general elections, among other allegations. Han stressed the need for transparency and accountability, stating, “A personnel overhaul related to first lady Kim is absolutely, urgently needed at the presidential office. There needs to be an honest explanation for the allegations raised, and if there are necessary procedures to determine the truth behind the allegations, they must be actively followed.”
Interpreting the by-election outcome as a mandate for change, Han announced, “We will change and reform with courage, dedication, and precision.” Addressing the media at the National Assembly concerning the prosecutors’ decision not to indict Kim over her stock manipulation allegations, Han remarked, “It remains to be seen whether the prosecutors’ explanation is convincing to the people.”
Earlier in the day, the Seoul Central District Prosec
utors Office announced its decision not to indict, concluding a 4 1/2 year investigation into allegations that Kim’s stock trading accounts were used in a massive stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors Inc., a BMW dealer, between 2009-2012.