Shin Hyun-song Submits Child Travel Records; BOK Hearing Report Poised for Adoption July 17

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

Shin Hyun-song, the nominee for Bank of Korea governor, has completed the submission of all additional requested documents related to questions over his child’s nationality.
According to the submitted materials, there were no issues involving his eldest daughter’s national health insurance usage records, receipt of livelihood support payments, or matters related to housing subscription accounts.
The National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee is set to discuss adopting the confirmation hearing report on July 17, and the report is likely to be adopted if the ruling and opposition parties show no major differences.

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Shin Hyun-song, the nominee for Bank of Korea governor, answers lawmakers’ questions during a confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of July 15. Photo: Lim Hyung-taek, Korea Economic Daily

Shin Hyun-song, the nominee for Bank of Korea governor, has completed the submission of additional materials requested over questions surrounding his child’s nationality. The National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee is set to adopt its confirmation hearing report as early as July 17.

According to political sources on July 16, Shin submitted all additional materials requested after his confirmation hearing the previous day, including immigration records for his eldest daughter that had emerged as a key point of contention.

The documents showed no record of the eldest daughter using South Korea’s national health insurance. They also indicated no problems involving livelihood support payments or matters related to housing subscription accounts.

There was, however, one past instance in which the eldest daughter used a South Korean passport when departing the country. Shin’s side said no other issues were found in her residence or travel history.

The latest submission has helped ease, at least in part, the dispute between ruling and opposition parties over allegations involving Shin’s children. The Strategy and Finance Committee will hold a plenary meeting on the morning of July 17 to discuss adopting the confirmation hearing report. Barring major differences between the two sides, the report is expected to be adopted.

Earlier, Cheon Ha-ram, a lawmaker from the minor Reform Party, raised a series of allegations of preferential treatment involving Shin’s eldest daughter. The daughter acquired British nationality in 1999 and lost her South Korean nationality but did not report the change. Cheon also alleged that in December 2023 she was illegally registered as a domestic resident at an apartment in Seoul’s Gangnam district despite holding British nationality. He requested additional records on her national health insurance eligibility, health insurance usage, and entry and exit records involving a South Korean passport. After Shin failed to submit the requested materials during the July 15 confirmation hearing, committee members agreed to revisit whether to adopt the report once the documents were filed.

Shim Sung-mi, Korea Economic Daily reporter smshim@hankyung.com