Kim’s nomination is subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing, but the president can proceed with the appointment regardless of the hearing's outcome.
A tough road seems to be ahead for Kim, as he faces allegations from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which accuses him of attempting to cover up the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun, who died during a flood relief operation in July 2023.
Last month, media reports surfaced, revealing phone records and voice recordings suggesting that Kim had lobbied to protect Lim Seong-geun, the commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division at the time of the incident, from legal repercussions.
The Presidential Security Service has denied all accusations, asserting that Kim, a former three-star general, does not know Lim, a two-star Marine Corps major general. They also stated that Kim neither made phone calls nor sent text messages in any attempt to lobby for a reprieve.
The DP criticized the president's nomination, calling it a revolving door appointment. "[It is a] declaration of uncommunication aimed at completely covering up the truth behind the alleged external pressure and lobbying related to the investigation of the deceased Marine, as well as an act of defiance against the people's demand for a special probe into the matter," DP spokesperson Lee Hae-sik claimed.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
