Shin Hyun-song Submits Daughter’s Travel Records; BOK Hearing Report May Be Adopted April 17

Shin Hyun-song, the nominee for Bank of Korea governor, has submitted all documents requested over questions tied to his daughter’s nationality. The National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee could adopt its confirmation hearing report as early as April 17.

According to political officials on April 16, Shin submitted all additional materials requested after the confirmation hearing the previous day, including entry and exit records for his eldest daughter that had become a point of dispute.

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

One issue did surface. His eldest daughter was found to have used a South Korean passport once when leaving the country in the past. Shin’s side said no additional issues were identified in her residency or travel history.

The submission has partly eased allegations involving Shin’s children that had fueled clashes between the ruling and opposition parties. The committee is scheduled to hold a plenary meeting on the morning of April 17 to discuss adopting the confirmation hearing report. Barring major differences between the parties, the report stands a good chance of being adopted.

Earlier, Rep. Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party raised several allegations of preferential treatment involving Shin’s eldest daughter. After acquiring British citizenship in 1999 and losing her South Korean nationality, she 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 citizenship. He requested additional materials on whether she maintained eligibility for national health insurance, her insurance usage history and immigration records showing whether she used a South Korean passport. When Shin did not submit the requested materials during the April 15 hearing, committee members agreed to revisit whether to adopt the report after the documents were filed.

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