Measures needed to prevent drawbacks of spoils system
Leaked phone conversations between a former presidential official and a progressive YouTuber have opened a Pandora’s box of revelations.
If confirmed, the allegations reveal behind-the-scenes political maneuvering by key figures within the ruling camp to consolidate and expand their influence.
First lady Kim Keon Hee is accused of interfering in the ruling party’s selection of candidates for the April 10 National Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), faces allegations of misusing party funds designated for candidate surveys to assess his own competitiveness as a potential presidential contender in the next election.
Both should publicly address whether the allegations are true or if they have been falsely accused.
In a phone conversation with an online journalist from the YouTube channel Voice of Seoul in July, Kim Dae-nam, an executive at Seoul Guarantee Insurance (SGI) and a former senior official in the presidential office, claimed that Han’s alleged self-serving actions raised suspicions about his motives among President Yoon Suk Yeol and his aides. According to Kim, the president wanted Han to focus on his role as party leader and guide the PPP to success in key elections. However, Han allegedly prioritized his personal ambitions, using his position to advance his presidential bid, which deepened the mutual distrust between them.
Kim also revealed that the first lady was seething in anger after Han ignored five of her text messages. In these messages, she expressed her willingness to issue a public apology over the Dior bag scandal if it would help the ruling party regain public trust. According to Kim, the first lady would be pleased if Voice of Seoul were to discredit Han, who was at the time competing in the PPP’s leadership contest.
The ruling camp, already divided due to the strained relationship between the president and Han, has grown increasingly polarized. Han responded by stating that Kim had crossed the line when the former presidential office official urged the highly progressive online media to attack him to sway the results of the PPP’s leadership contest, deeming it unacceptable. He directed the ruling party to investigate the factual basis of Kim’s remarks. Han and his aides suspect that Kim is merely a puppet speaking on behalf of someone in the presidential office.
However, the presidential office denied the allegations, stating that it is inappropriate to pit the presidential office against the ruling party.
Kim said Voice of Seoul maliciously edited his remarks. He denied the allegations that he acted on someone else’s request to attack Han, asserting that his statements reflected his personal views and were not influenced by anyone else.
Han’s alleged misuse of the ruling party’s budget for personal ambitions is an issue that requires clarification. In an attempt to divert public attention to the presidential office, he raised a conspiracy theory suggesting that someone high up there wanted him to fail in the July primaries. However, he remained silent on another allegation against him.
The first lady also owes the public an explanation about the allegations surrounding her. This time, she is expected to provide a broad and general account of the situation. People are wondering why she consistently finds herself at the center of controversies. Is it due to targeting by progressive media outlets like Voice of Seoul, or is her involvement in various issues a result of her assertive behavior? The public wants to hear her side of the story. It is time for her to respond to their calls.
The leaked phone calls reveal how lucrative positions in state-run companies often go to unqualified individuals with ties to the presidential office. Kim, the SGI executive, earns nearly 300 million won ($222,400) annually. Although he is an engineering major with no prior experience in finance, he secured this highly sought-after job — one that requires significant expertise in finance — primarily due to his connections with the presidential office.
His case highlights a critical drawback of the spoils system — a practice in which political leaders appoint friends and supporters to government positions regardless of their qualifications, often prioritizing loyalty over merit. This system can lead to inefficiencies and corruption, wasting taxpayers’ money. The nation should implement measures to prevent unqualified individuals from obtaining positions at state-run firms.
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