[Editorial] Kim Dae-ki Arrested Over 'Illegal Budget' for Residence Relocation; Problems Began Then

Former Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki and former Administrative Affairs Secretary Yoon Jae-soon have been arrested on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice related to the relocation of the presidential residence. The two are accused of illegally diverting approximately 2.8 billion won from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to pay the company 21 Gram for the relocation project.

The relocation project, which began in March 2022 shortly after President Yoon Suk-yeol's election, involved renovating the presidential residence under strict security protocols. The article contends that the proper procedure would have involved selecting a qualified company through legal channels. However, the Presidential Transition Committee reportedly intervened, changing the designated contractor to 21 Gram, a relatively small company with only 2.8 billion won in revenue in 2021 and lacking the necessary permits for expansion work.

Allegations of influence peddling have surfaced, with reports suggesting that Kim Mo, the CEO of 21 Gram, had close ties to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, having sponsored her exhibition and handled office construction. Former Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Kim Oh-jin reportedly stated in a special investigation that he heard 21 Gram was "the company chosen by Mrs. Kim." The selection process itself is described as chaotic, with 21 Gram submitting a bid of 4.1 billion won without proper blueprints, a figure significantly higher than the government's initial budget of 1.4 billion won.

The article further details the irregular payment process, including the omission of a final inspection before payment and the alleged pressure exerted by the Presidential Office on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to use reserve funds. This sequence of events, characterized by "all sorts of irregularities and illegality," suggests that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's governance was flawed from its inception, particularly concerning the presidential residence relocation. The editorial implies that the "abuse of power by V0", a veiled reference to the First Lady, began during this period, urging a thorough investigation and accountability.