▲ People’s Power Party Policy Chief Kim Sang-hoon
Kim Sang-hoon, a member of the People’s Power Party and the party’s Policy Chief, was caught on camera sending a text message requesting a promotion for a specific individual working in a state-owned company.
According to a photo taken and reported by the International Newspaper from today’s (2nd) National Assembly plenary session, Kim is seen delivering a request through his acquaintance, Mr. A, for the promotion of a relative to the state-owned company.
The text message from Kim to Mr. A reads, “I have a relative working as a deputy director who is applying for a promotion to director this time. I would sincerely appreciate it if you could ensure that he becomes a leader through promotion this year.”
The message included the relative’s current department, name, and employee number.
Kim also received a reply from Mr. A today, which was captured on camera, stating, “The relative was not included in the promotion list due to reasons such as insufficient work duration compared to other candidates. We ask for your understanding.”
After the photo was made public, Kim explained to SBS, “He is the prospective son-in-law of someone who served as a director at a sub-agency when I was working in Daegu. His career, evaluation scores, and ranking are sufficient, but I was concerned he might be disadvantaged due to intense personnel lobbying at the workplace. I conveyed the message that it would be good if the institution treated him fairly without any disadvantage.”
He further added, “The key is that I asked the head of the institution to ensure he doesn’t face any disadvantages,” and noted, “The head will likely remember this fact.”
(Photo = Yonhap News)