Kim Seung-won Rebuts Claim That Photo With Yang Was Manipulated; Han Dong-hoon Asks, "How Will You Explain Being Alone With Yang at Your Home?"

[Financial News] Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon again raised questions about Kim Seung-won's rebuttal that the photograph had been manipulated. Regarding a photograph of Kim and broker Yang, who is linked to allegations of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Han argued, "How will you explain a photograph taken at night with Yang, with just the two of you at your home?"

According to political sources on the 17th, Han said on his social media the previous day, "Kim's side, specifically the preparation team for the confirmation hearing, officially issued a lengthy explanation regarding the already-released photograph of Kim with Yang, saying that it was taken in an office or commercial building, not in a private place."
Han continued, "If they were confident enough about the location where Kim and Yang took the photograph to issue such a lengthy explanation claiming it was a public place, such as an office or commercial building, then they should answer this question about the photograph taken at night with just the two of them at his home."

Meanwhile, Kim's confirmation hearing preparation team argued at the hearing the previous day that the photograph with Yang had been distorted through manipulation and editing by the opposition, making it appear different from reality. The team said the photograph had been edited to make it look as though it was taken at the seaside.
Kim's side explained that the original photograph showed Kim and Yang taking a selfie in front of a glass door in a space that appeared to be an office or commercial building. By contrast, the photograph shown at the hearing on the 15th had been cropped around the emergency-exit sign on the ceiling while part of the image was enlarged, they claimed. Its saturation had also been adjusted to give the entire image a bluish tint.
Earlier, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu presented the photograph at the hearing and asked, "Doesn't it look like the seaside back there?" and "Doesn't it look like a horizon?" Kim Seung-won responded, "I have never gone to the seaside with Yang," and "We might speak on the phone once or twice a year—why would I go to the seaside with him?" When asked about the specific location where the photograph was taken, he replied, "I don't remember."
Regarding Kim's relationship with Yang, Kim's side explained, "We were acquaintances who had known each other for some time, and it has already been established that the various photographs cited as the basis for the allegations were simply among the many photographs he took as a politician." It added, "A prosecution investigation also confirmed that Yang was in a romantic relationship with a third party."
It also criticized the claims, saying, "Nevertheless, some political figures have continued to pour out irresponsible speculation and assertions that the photograph of Kim with Yang appears to have been taken at the seaside."
Kim's side claimed, "The photograph released during the confirmation hearing was manipulated by the party that raised the allegations, which deleted part of the original, maliciously enlarged only a portion of it, and even altered its saturation to make the actual office space look like a seaside setting." It added, "We deeply regret that, in an attempt to maliciously defame the nominee, they manipulated not only the transcript but also the photograph."
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter