Basic Income Party Addresses 'Ghost Offices' Controversy: "Registered Members' Homes to Hang More Banners"

Firm Rebuttal Against "Ghost Offices" and Personalization Allegations
"No Branch Failed to Meet Registration Requirements"

The Basic Income Party has addressed criticism regarding some of its city and provincial branches allegedly using the addresses of farms or residences, rather than offices, to receive subsidies—a controversy dubbed the "ghost offices" issue—by explaining, "We registered party members' homes as offices out of the determination to hang even one more banner."

Noh So-young, the chief spokesperson of the Basic Income Party (center), along with Shin Ji-hye (left) and Kim Jin-seo, senior party members, explained the party's position on controversies related to Yong Hye-in, the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and the Basic Income Party at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

No Seo-young and Shin Ji-hye, spokespersons of the Basic Income Party, together with Kim Jin-seo, deputy spokesperson, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the afternoon of the 9th and countered, "Dismissing us as having created fake city and provincial branches just to collect subsidies is to belittle the history of the Basic Income Party, which has worked hard to strengthen its organizational capability."

Deputy Spokesperson Kim clarified, "Not a single city or provincial branch was deemed to have failed to meet the registration requirements in this process," stressing, "Party dues were allocated to each branch according to party rules and regulations, and each branch has carried out routine political activities with limited resources."

He further explained, "All of the approximately 150 million won allocated to city and provincial branches this year came from party dues and donations from the party’s supporters," and added, "Accounting records clearly show this was distributed under categories 'other than subsidies.' Any claim that this was paid out as operating subsidies is false."

Lee Seung-seok, head of the Chungnam branch of the Basic Income Party, also expressed in a statement, "Of course, I would also like to have a proper office and hire staff to run the branch," adding, "However, just because my personal residence was registered as the office address due to financial constraints, it is absolutely unacceptable for all the activities of our Chungnam branch members, most of whom are ordinary office workers, to be dismissed as ghost activities."

Noh Sayeong, the spokesperson and top committee member of the Basic Income Party (second from left), along with top committee members Shin Ji-hye (left) and Kim Jin-seo, explained the party’s position on controversies related to Yong Hyein, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and the Basic Income Party at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

Spokesperson No also addressed criticism that Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, turned the party into her personal organization by appointing her former aides from her parliamentary office as party leadership. No explained, "Having party officials gain work experience in the parliamentary office or take on party roles after working there was a means to strengthen the Basic Income Party’s policy capabilities, both inside and outside the legislature."

"Moving between parliamentary office positions and party posts was intended to build expertise for the future envisioned by the Basic Income Party," she continued. "Portraying our chosen approach for a single-seat parliamentary party to grow into a party beneficial to the people as if Candidate Yong was simply providing jobs for close associates and enabling them to gain influence in the leadership, is nothing more than a baseless smear."

She also commented, "In response to Assemblyman Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party of Korea disparaging the Basic Income Party as a 'party that clings to and subsists on the national treasury,' let me clarify: Even after our approval rating increased during the last local elections and before the increase in government subsidies during the third quarter of this year, the amount the Basic Income Party received as government subsidies was only around 9 million won per quarter. Is it reasonable to claim that we have sustained 6 years of consistent participation in public office elections and political activities solely on an amount that barely covers the wage for one person?"

Lastly, she appealed, "It is not unprecedented for a proportional representative lawmaker to concurrently hold a ministerial position. As we take on the new challenge of being a responsible opposition, we sincerely ask for the public's support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.