People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon holds a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 14th. / Image capture from the YouTube channel 'Songpa-Gap Park Jeong-hoon'. 

A sitting lawmaker has alleged that Kim Hyun-ji, a top aide to Lee Jae-myung, has close ties to the Gyeonggi Eastern Union, a group known to be followers of North Korea's Kim Il-sung. 

Calls are rapidly mounting for a thorough investigation into allegations that a high-ranking official within the Presidential Office—the command center of the Republic of Korea—is connected to our main enemy, North Korea. 

On the 14th, People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall, asserting, "I have confirmed that Kim Hyun-ji, the Chief of the First Presidential Secretary’s Office and considered the most powerful figure in Lee Jae-myung’s camp, is linked to the Gyeonggi Eastern Union, a group that follows Kim Il-sung." 

Rep. Park stated, "Questions have continuously been raised regarding Lee Jae-myung's relationship with the Gyeonggi Eastern Union ever since he won the 2010 local elections through a candidacy merger with former Unified Progressive Party lawmaker Kim Mi-hee," adding, "While Lee has never clearly clarified his position on this, I have found evidence that allows us to infer the link in the chain connecting the Gyeonggi Eastern Union, the Unified Progressive Party, Kim Hyun-ji, and Lee Jae-myung." 

Citing the court ruling on former lawmaker Kim’s violation of the Public Official Election Act, Rep. Park said, "Kim Mi-hee’s husband, Baek Seung-woo, is a core figure of the Gyeonggi Eastern Union," and "Kim Mi-hee and her accomplices were indicted for election law violations after visiting a meal gathering to campaign and paying for the meals, and Kim Hyun-ji was deeply involved in this illicit activity." 

He further revealed that the ruling included statements such as, "Kim Hyun-ji, who was well-acquainted with the defendant Kim Mi-hee while working with civic groups in Seongnam City," and "It appears that defendant Kim Mi-hee visited the restaurant due to an incidental exchange of information between Kim Hyun-ji and (Jeong Hyeong-ju)." 

Furthermore, he noted, "It was also confirmed that Kim Hyun-ji played a decisive role in helping Kim Mi-hee and her accomplices receive a reduced sentence by providing favorable testimony," and added, "Kim Hyun-ji personally appeared in the appellate court to testify in a manner that denied the criminal charges recognized in the first trial." 

Rep. Park stated, "In 2004, Lee Jae-myung was fined 5 million won for special obstruction of justice and damage to public property after throwing a microphone at the Seongnam City Council and intimidating city council members," adding, "It has been confirmed that Kim Hyun-ji was also involved in these criminal acts." 

He pointed to the Supreme Court ruling, which records: "Defendant Kim Hyun-ji, in collusion with defendant Lee Jae-myung and others, used unspeakable, vulgar profanities toward city council members on March 24, 2004, at 3:50 PM, demanding that they 're-deliberate'." He continued, "They addressed council members with profanities, blocked their path, pushed them with their bodies, and prevented them from entering for three hours. The following day, they blocked the hallway in front of the entrance with a sofa, preventing city council members and relevant officials from entering, while shouting and obstructing legitimate legislative activities." 

He added, "When Lee Jae-myung was a lawyer, he had a 20 million won success fee paid to Kim Hyun-ji. This revelation previously raised suspicions that the two were an 'economic community,'" and continued, "This court ruling now confirms that they were also a 'criminal community'." 

Rep. Park reiterated, "Having analyzed all the rulings, I have confirmed that Kim Hyun-ji was fined for special obstruction of justice alongside Lee Jae-myung and was also involved in the Unified Progressive Party case, which is essentially one body with the Gyeonggi Eastern Union." 

Editorial Department