Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (center) and Representative Chae Hyun-il (left) take a commemorative photo at a Democratic Party members' event held at the Prime Minister's official residence on the 17th. [Photo=Committee for the People's Livelihoods]

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has been reported to the police on suspicion of abusing public power by providing the Prime Minister's official residence, a national public facility, as a venue for a specific political party's event.

The civic group, Committee for the People's Livelihoods (Min-wi, Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan), announced on the 30th that it had filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Prime Minister Kim and Democratic Party Representative Chae Hyun-il on charges of abuse of power, dereliction of duty, and violation of the Public Official Election Act.

The event in question was the 'Yeongdeungpo District Party Members' New Year's Reception,' held on the 17th at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

In its complaint, Min-wi argued, "Collecting participation fees from party members at a national facility for political activities is a violation of public officials' duty of election neutrality and an abuse of public power."

Min-wi believes that on this day, Prime Minister Kim and Representative Chae collected participation fees from aspiring candidates for local elections and party members, and used a national public facility as a venue for political activities.

In particular, Min-wi claims that providing the Prime Minister's official residence for the purpose of a specific political party's event is an act of abusing public power that violates the election neutrality obligations of public officials.

The complaint also included circumstances where Prime Minister Kim invited a certain pastor to the official residence and entertained him with a meal.

In response, Prime Minister Kim's side countered, stating, "This is routine work that has no legal issues," and "The event was conducted after confirming its legality by inquiring with the Election Commission in advance."

Regarding the invitation of the pastor, it was reported that he explained, "Attending meetings and receptions at the request of various groups, including religious circles, is part of the Prime Minister's routine duties."

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (center) and Representative Chae Hyun-il (right) take a commemorative photo at a Democratic Party members' event held at the Prime Minister's official residence on the 17th. [Photo=Committee for the People's Livelihoods]

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (right) is also mentioned in the investigation related to former Seoul City Councilor Kim Kyung, a key figure in the 'Democratic Party nomination lobbying suspicion.' [Photo=Kim Kyung's Facebook]

To make matters worse, Prime Minister Kim is also being mentioned in the investigation related to former Seoul City Councilor Kim Kyung, a key figure in the so-called 'Democratic Party nomination lobbying suspicion,' in addition to this case.

Originally, Kim was known to be aiming to run for Yeongdeungpo District Mayor in the local elections in June before this suspicion arose. Democratic Party insiders stated that he had been consistently trying to contact Prime Minister Kim and Representative Chae, whose constituency is Yeongdeungpo.

During this process, suspicions arose in September of last year that Kim had his followers, who are members of a specific religious group, join the party and paid their membership fees, claiming, "Let's support Prime Minister Kim as the next Seoul Mayor."

It is known that the Democratic Party leadership, which launched its own investigation at the time, identified text messages sent by Kim to Representative Kang Seon-woo in mid-June of last year, mentioning Prime Minister Kim and Representative Chae and requesting assistance.

Min-wi Donation Account: Post Office 010108-01-014472

Depositor: Committee for the People's Livelihoods

Reporter Lim Yo-hee