Minister of SMEs and Startups nominee Lee So-young refutes allegations over service fees for vacant-office company
Candidate Lee So-young refutes allegations; corporate vacant-office address consulting contract proceeded normally Quickly check the background of the service fee payments for legislative activities and the key issues in the confirmation hearing
Candidate for Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Soyoung responded on the 13th to allegations that she paid about 70 million won in consulting fees for legislative activities to a consulting firm whose corporate registered address was vacant, saying, “It was a lawful and normal contract.”
The candidate’s personnel hearing preparation team explained that they signed the contract based not on the company’s address but on the experience and capabilities of the consultant who actually performed the work, and that they assigned related tasks such as producing promotional materials needed for elections and legislative activities, policy analysis and research, and advisory work. They also said that the scope of work was specified in detail in the contract, payments were made in installments according to each contract period, and receipts were issued in the usual manner.
The allegations were raised through a broadcast report, and it was reported that the company’s representative had moved the office to Seoul but could not change the corporate registered address due to cost issues. However, former People Power Party Seoul City Councilor Lee Jongbae stated that he would file a complaint on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, and the National Assembly confirmation hearing for the candidate is scheduled to be held on the 15th.