[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Kangwon Land Executives' Local Activities While Holding Party Membership... Opposition Calls It "Political Activity"

Executives with party affiliations made separate local visits over Chuseok
They clashed with committee members at one point after opposition criticism
Kim Doeup rebukes Kim Dogyun: "His response was inappropriate"

As the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee held a parliamentary audit on the 19th, tensions flared between opposition lawmakers and Kangwon Land executives over the executives’ membership in the Democratic Party of Korea and related activities, with voices raised at one point.

Kim Dogyun, CEO of Kangwon Land, speaks during a parliamentary audit of the Korea Gas Corporation, Korea National Oil Corporation, Kangwon Land, Korea Coal Corporation, Korea Gas Technology Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Korea Petroleum Quality & Distribution Authority, and Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, held by the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee at the Korea Gas Corporation in Dong-gu, Daegu, on the 19th. Yonhap News.

The committee held an audit that day at the Korea Gas Corporation in Dong-gu, Daegu, targeting public institutions under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, including Kangwon Land, the Korea Gas Corporation, Korea National Oil Corporation, and Korea Coal Corporation.

The People Power Party took issue with Kangwon Land executives holding Democratic Party membership while engaging in political activities during Chuseok. Committee member Seo Jiyoung presented photographs and said, “(Kangwon Land CEO Kim Dogyun) attended a Chuseok event with the Democratic Party’s Sokcho-Inje-Goseong-Yangyang district committee on September 24,” adding, “It is an area without even a coal-mining region.”

Regarding Kangwon Land Vice President Yoo Jeongbae, she said, “On September 23, he visited a traditional market with party members of the Democratic Party’s Chuncheon-Cheorwon-Hwacheon-Yanggu district committee, his former constituency. It looks like campaigning,” and asked, “Isn’t that political activity?” She also directed remarks at the two executives, including, “You are unqualified” and “Are you going to run in the next general election?”

In response, CEO Kim Dogyun raised his voice, saying, “Why are you asking me that question now?” He continued, “I don’t think this is the place to respond to the release of those photographs earlier or to questions about my future political plans.” He also said, “I am doing my utmost as CEO of Kangwon Land.”

The People Power Party further criticized CEO Kim’s manner of responding. Committee member Kim Doeup said, “(CEO Kim’s) manner of responding is highly inappropriate,” adding, “Isn’t someone who is paid a salary as the head of Kangwon Land and holds a position in which he is expected to perform his duties engaging in conduct that anyone would see as political activity and close to early campaigning?”

Committee member Park Seongmin also criticized him, saying, “You can be a member of a political party,” but added, “Photographs show him shopping under a banner that said something like ‘Democratic Party committee,’ and he can’t simply say there is no reason to answer questions about that.” He continued, “You should speak honestly. How can you make such a baseless statement at a parliamentary audit?”

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