Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won Apologizes Over Alleged False Address Registration for 9- and 6-Year-Old Children in Bundang’s “School District 8”

[Financial News] Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won has acknowledged and apologized for registering his minor children at a false address in the past for educational purposes.
According to legal circles on the 11th, Kim’s eldest daughter, who was 9 at the time, and eldest son, who was 6, had their addresses registered in February 2006 at an apartment in Seohyeon-dong, Bundang District, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, while the family was living in Jeonju. Seohyeon-dong is considered one of Bundang’s prestigious school districts and is highly favored by parents.
By contrast, Kim and his wife, along with their second daughter, who was 2 at the time, reportedly registered their addresses one week after the two children at an apartment in Sinheung-dong, Sujeong District, Seongnam-si, about 10 kilometers from the address in question.
On paper, only the two young children—the eldest daughter, who was in elementary school, and the eldest son, who had not yet entered school—were living in Bundang separately from their parents. The separation of their registered residences continued for about two years and eight months. In October 2008, Kim, his wife and their second daughter moved their registered addresses to the Seohyeon-dong apartment where the two older children were registered.
After allegations of false address registration emerged, Kim’s side immediately issued an apology.
In a statement released that day, Kim’s confirmation hearing preparation team bowed its head and said, "Regardless of the circumstances, we sincerely regret that the children’s actual residence and their registered residence differed for educational purposes." It added, "We will provide a detailed explanation of the specific circumstances at the confirmation hearing."
Meanwhile, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is scheduled to hold Kim’s confirmation hearing on the 15th. The hearing is expected to include intensive questioning about the false address registration controversy, allegations that he sought expedited approval of clinical trials for a COVID-19 treatment, and allegations that an acquaintance’s child received preferential treatment in hiring at a lawmaker’s office.
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