박근혜 정부 장관내정자들에 대해 잇단 의혹이 제기되는 가운데 부실검증논란이 다시 한번 일고 있다.

이미 민주당은 김병관 국방장관 내정자, 황교안 법무장관 내정자를 부적격 판정을 내린 바 있으며 현오석 경제부총리 내정자도 각종 의혹에 휩싸였다.

현 후보자는 2005년 당시 25세였던 딸에게 10억을 호가하는 서울의 아파트를 증여하기 직전 은행권에서 수억 원의 담보대출을 받는 형식으로 증여세를 1억 여 원 가량 줄인 의혹을 받고 있다.

또, 민주당 이언주 의원은 2011년 저축은행사태 당시 현 후보자가 자신과 부인의 명의로 된 2억 원 예금을 솔로몬저축은행과 경기솔로몬저축은행의 영업정지 전 인출한 사실을 문제삼고 있다.

이중국적 논란에 휩싸였던 김종훈 미래부장관 내정자에 대해서는 통합진보당 이석기 의원이 CIA에 깊이 관여된 사람이라며 장관직에 적격성을 의문하고 나섰다.

새로운 의혹이 제기 된 것은 아니지만, 정무수석지명자인 이정현 전 한나라당의원의 과거행보에 대해서도 논란이 일고 있다.

이 의원은 박연차게이트 사건에서 박회장에게 2000만원을 받은 혐의를 받았었지만, 재판에 회부되지는 않았다. 하지만 박회장은 서갑원 의원 재판에서 이정현 정무수석 지명자에게 2000만원을 정치자금 명목으로 제공했고, 제 3자를 통해 감사인사까지 받았다고 증언한 바 있다.

한편 김병관 국방장관 내정자는 지명되자마자 증여세 미납 논란이 불거져 논란이 일었다.

그는 1986년 경북 예천군 용문면의 임야를 아내와 장남 명의로 매입했는데 매입 당시 장남 나이는 8살에 불과했다. 김 내정자는 2006년 재산공개 당시 이 땅의 소유권이 모두 아내에게 있고 장남 소유의 부동산은 없다고 신고했으며 이에 대해 편법 증여와 허위 신고 의혹이 일자 내정된 직후 증여세를 부랴부랴 납부했다.

김 내정자는 배우자가 두 아들에게 노량진 아파트를 증여하면서 증여세를 줄이기 위해 증여 20일 전 은행에서 1억 2000만원을 빌려 증여액을 낮추는 방법으로 2400백만 원의 증여세를 내지 않은 의혹도 받고 있다.

황교안 법무부 장관 내정자에 대한 의혹도 꼬리에 꼬리를 물고 있다.

황 내정자는 2011년 부산고검장을 퇴임한 뒤 같은 해 9월부터 지난달까지 법무법인 태평양에서 17개월간 근무하면서 월 평균 1억 원에 달하는 급여를 받아 전관예우 차원에서 거액의 보수를 받은 것이라는 논란이 예상된다.

(코리아헤럴드 최희석 기자)





<관련 영문 기사>


Allegations dog Park’s nominees

By Choi He-suk

Allegations of misdeeds have been brought against nominees for some of the most powerful positions, rekindling criticisms against President-elect Park Geun-hye’s personnel selection method.

From the latest batch of nominees revealed on Sunday and Monday, finance minister nominee Hyun Oh-seok has been accused of tax evasion.

According to reports, the Korea Development Institute chief transferred the ownership of a residential property in southern Seoul to his daughter in 2005, which he purchased in the late 1980s.

While gift tax was paid, Hyun is thought to have reduced the taxable amount by taking out a large loan secured against the property shortly before transferring ownership to his daughter.

The main opposition Democratic United Party has also raised concerns about Hyun’s actions during the savings banks crisis of 2011, when a large number of savings banks were suspended. At the time number of account holders with large deposits were found to have withdrawn funds before the closures, raising suspicions that insider information was provided to major clients.“When the government was busy trying to prevent a bank run for savings banks, KDI president Hyun withdrew all 200 million won,” DUP’s Rep. Lee Un-ju said on Monday.

Hyun’s financial records show that he and his wife held a total of 200 million won in Solomon Savings Bank and its subsidiary for Gyeonggi Province in four separate accounts at the end of 2010. All four accounts, however, stood empty by the end of the following year.

Hyun, however, disputed the allegations saying that funds in two of the accounts were withdrawn in April and October of 2010 as they had reached maturity, and that the third account’s deposits were taken out in July that year.

While no allegation has been brought against chief of staff appointee Huh Tae-yeol’s links to the so-called Park Yeon-cha-gate appears likely to flare up again.

The Park Yeon-cha-gate refers to the case surrounding Sejong Securities takeover deal between Taekwang Industry Co. chairman Park Yeon-cha and Sejong Capital CEO Kim Ki-ok between 2005 and 2006. In the process, Park Yeon-cha bribed a large number of influential figures including politicians.

Park Yeon-cha was sentenced to a 2-year-and-six-month prison term in 2010.

During the investigation, conducted between 2008 and 2009, Huh was suspected of taking illegal political funding from Park Yeon-cha.

Huh denied the allegations and no charges were brought against him.

However, Park Yeon-cha testified that he gave Huh 20 million won during the trial of former lawmaker Seo Gap-won of the defunct Democratic Party.

At the time the Taekwang Industry Co. chairman said that he not only gave Huh the money, but also received a message of thanks through a third party.

While not accused of any wrongdoing, the suitability of Kim Jeong-hoon as a government minister has also been brought into question. The science minister nominee is currently the president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs and Corporate Strategy.

According to Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the far-left Unified Progressive Party, Kim is “deeply involved with the (U.S.) Central Intelligence Agency” citing his involvement in the CIA-funded investment firm In-Q-Tel.

“It is questionable whether Kim, who has worked for the CIA and a U.S. military-industrial entity is qualified for the role of nurturing Korea’s cutting-edge technologies and overseeing core national assets,” Lee said.

The allegations against Hyun and Huh, however, are only the latest to be brought against the president-elect’s nominations.

From the six ministerial nominees announced last week, the DUP has already called for the resignation or withdrawal of the defense and justice ministerial candidates.

Defense Minister nominee Kim Byung-kwan has been accused of tax evasion and burying reports of corruption while serving as the commander of an army division.

The Defense Minister nominee is also alleged to have falsely changed his registered address, and influenced Defense Ministry subcontracts with two companies for which his eldest son worked. They won large contracts from the ministry.

In addition, financial investments made by Kim Byung-kwan has come under scrutiny. The documents submitted to the National Assembly for the confirmation hearing showed that his wife holds 1,000 shares of a military battery supplier.

Park’s nominee for the top Ministry of Justice post, Hwang Kyo-ahn, is accused of dodging mandatory military service. Records show that Hwang postponed the physical examination for military service three times, and was later exempted from service due to a skin condition.

Hwang is also alleged to have engaged in real estate speculation, and conducting a biased investigation into corrupt public prosecutors.

(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)