Rep. Kim Seung-won's Hearing Rekindles Preferential Treatment Allegations

Seonu Yoon-ho stated that he filmed the allegations of preferential treatment for the candidate's children in a single take at the site of Rep. Kim Seung-won's hearing. He reported directly confirming the atmosphere and the reactions of the attending lawmakers, specifically mentioning that he vividly captured Rep. Seo Young-kyo's tears and the reactions of Reps. Kim Min-jeon and Kim Tae-gyo.

Seonu Yoon-ho asserted that Rep. Kim Seung-won's child does not have a developmental disability, claiming that the core issue is the alleged preferential hiring of children and family members and their work at employment agencies. The candidate's side argued that their child's work at a developmental disability support institution was an act of dedication, but the host countered that tax support and preferential treatment for family businesses were the key concerns.

Jang Dong-ran claimed that 330 million won of taxes, which should have been used for children with developmental disabilities, were taken by Rep. Kim Seung-won's spouse, son, and daughter. Furthermore, she alleged that salaries were increased by 30% annually, and the institution falsely claimed to be a school despite not being one, generating 880 million won in profit over four years. She also pointed out that the candidate moved his residence to Suwon to register for support after being elected.

Seonu Yoon-ho expressed skepticism, suggesting that Rep. Kim Seung-won did not shed tears when discussing his wife but seemed to escalate emotions and induce tears when talking about his son. He raised the possibility that Rep. Kim's appeal about the difficulties of caring for people with developmental disabilities, stating, "If I die, who will take care of my child with a developmental disability?" was an emotional strategy. He cited the absence of tears when mentioning his wife as evidence, leading to criticism of the method of escalating emotions when mentioning his son.

He mentioned circumstances where the institution passed after failing a fire safety inspection and receiving an extended deadline, and that a competing institution was scored 0 points in an institutional support project review, leading to the said institution's acceptance. The panelist claimed to have obtained a recording of the party involved boasting about this verbally.

The Democratic Party emphasized that Rep. Kim Seung-won's child has a developmental disability, attempting to defend against belittlement. However, the panelist pointed out that Rep. Kim Seung-won's child does not have a developmental disability, and that the core issue is the alleged family business and preferential treatment surrounding the child's employment in developmental disability care and childcare.

The panelist introduced the situation where former Chairman Han Dong-hoon applied to be a witness at the hearing but ultimately could not enter, coining the new term 'outside witness.' Criticism was raised that this hearing lacked new findings beyond organizing existing allegations, and specifically, that there was a legal error in the nature of the stocks related to stock manipulation being unlisted shares.

He also added that there were reports of the chairman of a hometown association's children being hired as interns and paid, even though they also did not actually commute. This was pointed out as a case of preferential hiring that could violate the Public Official Election Act.

Jang Dong-ran revealed that there were two individuals involved in the controversy over intern secretaries in Rep. Kim Seung-won's office. One was the child of a local hometown association head, and the other was the child of a judge who had dismissed a warrant. She noted that the judge's child received a salary for three months, which contrasted with the usual practice of unpaid internships, further intensifying the allegations of preferential treatment.

Jang Dong-ran mentioned the controversy surrounding Rep. Seo Young-kyo's hiring of relatives during the 19th National Assembly in 2016. She pointed out that Rep. Seo had a history of hiring her college-aged daughter as an intern in her parliamentary office and her younger brother as a Grade 5 secretary, which caused significant controversy and led to her withdrawal from the Democratic Party. This was also linked to the controversy surrounding her explanation for returning political donations, causing a huge stir at the time.

He explained that his son was meant to continue caring for children with developmental disabilities even into their twenties and thirties. He also conveyed the difficulties faced by parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities, asserting the sincerity of his child's activities.

Jang Dong-ran stated that people who watched this hearing commonly expressed concern that Chairman Lee Jae-myung's approval rating could fall to the 20% range. She strongly criticized the actions of Rep. Yong Hye-in and Rep. Kim Seung-won, saying they were dragging down Chairman Lee Jae-myung's approval rating. She analyzed that the aftermath of this hearing would be a major cause of the Democratic Party's approval rating decline.

Negative assessments from the ruling party continued regarding the hearing attitudes of Reps. Kim Seung-won and Seo Young-kyo, leading to analysis that the Democratic Party's actions were as disappointing as during the past impeachment. The prevailing view is that the hearing's outcome will be unfavorable to the Democratic Party.

Jang Dong-ran stated that Chairman Lee Jae-myung had announced a direct press conference on the 18th, describing it as 'good news.' While analyses of the background and intention of the press conference continued, remarks made by Political Affairs Secretary Hong Ik-pyo on Kim Eo-jun's broadcast were also mentioned, highlighting the complex situation within the Democratic Party.

It suggests that the 'one team' dynamic between Kim Eo-jun and these media outlets has changed. This indicates that the conflict between Chairman Lee Jae-myung's loyalists and non-Lee factions is also affecting the media landscape. Unlike the Moon Jae-in administration, the media's attitude towards the Democratic Party is changing.

Jang Dong-ran reported that the atmosphere among 'Han-daughter' supporters, who previously strongly criticized the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership, suddenly shifted. They abruptly began advocating for an alliance, claiming they must defeat the Democratic Party even if it means leveraging former Chairman Han Dong-hoon's influence. This is interpreted as a new strategy to guard against internal division and secure victory against the Democratic Party.

The panelists questioned whether taking off high heels to bow was appropriate and criticized the action for creating unnecessary controversy.

Jang Dong-ran stated that Rep. Choo Mi-ae is trying to divert corporate taxes paid by semiconductor companies like Hynix and Samsung Electronics from the government to local governments. Rep. Choo is using a strategy of allying with the Chungbuk governor to pressure the government, which is interpreted as an independent faction-building move aimed at the next presidential election. She is directly challenging the government's tax policy under the guise of local economic revitalization. These actions are seen as Rep. Choo's intention to strengthen her independent political standing.

The panelists expressed surprise at Chairman Lee Jae-myung's approval rating in the 20s age group, which recorded 18%. They specifically noted that the approval rating for women in their 20s was even lower at 17.3%, compared to 19.3% for men, calling it an unusual result. This phenomenon is rare under a Democratic Party administration and is analyzed as an indicator of increasing disaffection among the younger generation. This suggests a shift within the Democratic Party's support base, and attention is growing on its potential impact on future elections.

Witness K reported that videos related to Commissioner Kim Tae-gyu had garnered hundreds of thousands of views within an hour of being uploaded, becoming a huge sensation. He emphasized that the scenes of the fierce debate, which made Rep. Kim Seung-won falter, were crucial. He mentioned the need to promote such videos and highlight the division and incompetence of the opposition party, positively evaluating the opposition party's performance in the hearing.