PPP lawmaker introduces bill to mandate disclosure of all DUI convictions for public office candidates

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Min-jeon on Friday introduced a bill to amend the Public Official Election Act, requiring mandatory disclosure of all drunk-driving convictions for public office candidates regardless of the fine amount. The move came in response to controversy over Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's past drunk-driving conviction.

Under the current Public Official Election Act, candidates must disclose only criminal records involving fines of 1 million won ($736) or more, making lower-fine convictions difficult to verify during the vetting process.

According to Kim's office, nominee Kim Seung-won was fined 700,000 won for drunk driving while working as a lawyer, but listed "none" in the criminal record section of his election materials under the existing provision, passing both the party nomination and election vetting processes.

The core of the amendment is an exception clause requiring that criminal record certificates submitted at candidate registration include all drunk-driving convictions under the Road Traffic Act, regardless of the fine amount.

A spokesperson for Kim's office said the bill aims "to apply the strictest standard to drunk-driving offenses — crimes that cause serious harm to the lives, bodies and property of others and carry a very high rate of reoffending — in order to provide voters with transparent and accurate information."

"Drunk driving, which puts people's lives at risk, must be the most rigorously scrutinized item for anyone seeking public office, regardless of the fine amount," Kim said. "I hope the passage of this bill will raise the ethical standards of public service through transparent disclosure of information."