◀ anchor ▶
The whirlwind surrounding the process of the abolition of the prosecutor’s investigative power is accelerating.
The Democratic Party is poised to break through the standing committee and plenary session, despite criticism that it is a ‘disguise evasion trick’.
The prosecution, who is holding an unprecedented relay meeting, is also trying hard to protect the investigative authority by comforting the adults.
We’ll tell you more regarding it in a moment.
Today’s first news starts with MBC’s exclusive report.
Prime Minister candidate Han Deok-soo was given a card that allowed couples to use the luxury hotel fitness center for free while serving as the president of the Korea International Trade Association.
Usually, a couple’s membership in a luxury hotel costs regarding 100 million won, but you have to pay an annual fee separately.
It is said that the hotel has customarily provided the right to use to the president of the International Trade Association, but it seems to be a problem.
Moreover, one candidate left the trade association president in February 2015, and he still has this card.
One candidate said it was a severance pay personality, well.
One candidate received a total of 1.95 billion won in salary for three years as the president of the Korea International Trade Association, and over 400 million won in severance pay.
This is an exclusive report by Cho Myung-ah.
◀ Report ▶
A 5-star InterContinental Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul.
The hotel fitness club located here is famous as the most expensive place in Gangnam.
The market price for a couple’s membership is regarding 110 million won, and you have to pay an annual fee of 8 million won to use it.
[피트니스 회원권 판매 대행사]
“That’s right. The facilities are that good and you can think of it as the best fitness club in the Gangnam area.”
Prime Minister candidate Han Deok-soo and his wife have the right to use the hotel’s fitness facility.
I got it when I took office as the president of the Korea International Trade Association in 2012.
[무역협회 관계자]
“It’s true that (the hotel side) provided a service voucher to use the fitness center as a courtesy.”
It is not a membership card, but a card-type usage right, and there is no difference from a regular membership ticket in that it can be used without restrictions.
A couple of candidates have been using the hotel gym for free for 10 years following their retirement, as well as until 2015, when their tenure as president of the trade association ended.
[인터컨티넬탈 호텔 피트니스 관계자]
“Actually, there have been many cases where problems have arisen because of it. I know the memories of[Han Deok-soo]attending. I will tell you only that much.”
This is the property report of a candidate.
InterContinental Fitness licenses were not reported.
Instead, I sold the Shilla Hotel membership I had, and wrote that the reason was “because I was able to use the nearby gym provided by the International Trade Association for health care.”
It is not expressed as a luxury hotel fitness of a billion dollars, but as if it were provided with an ordinary gym license.
There are suspicions that it was intentionally omitted from the property report.
[김의겸/더불어민주당 의원]
“The market price is close to 100 million won once once more omitted the membership. I think that it will be difficult to earn the trust of the people.”
The InterContinental Hotel has a 31% stake in the Korea International Trade Association, so there is a possibility of a conflict of interest.
Also, if you continue to retain the right to use it even following becoming prime minister, there is a possibility of violating the Kim Young-ran Act.
[김위정/변호사(법무법인 마중)]
“(Prime Minister) can be viewed as having any job-related work in any domestic affairs. There is a risk of violating a law called the Kim Young-ran Act, the Anti-Solicitation and Solicitation Act, which stipulates that public officials should not receive anything from anyone with job-related connections.”
Above all, criticism is being raised as to whether it is appropriate for a couple to be provided with the convenience of using hotel fitness for billions of dollars as candidates for public office, especially as prime minister candidates.
In a phone call with MBC, one candidate said, “The license is still held, but it is a kind of service in the nature of the president’s retirement pay that all past presidents of the Korea International Trade Association are provided.”
He also explained, “It was difficult to calculate the value of the property, so it was not included in the property report, and there is no possibility of a conflict of interest.”
At the same time, candidate Han Deok-soo is causing controversy by omitting 400 million won in severance pay from the details of the trade association remuneration submitted to the National Assembly and disclosing only 1.95 billion won in salary.
This is Myeong-ah Cho from MBC News.
Video coverage: Gomyeong Dok / Video editing: Jaeran Shin
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