Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said the party would examine whether Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae’s 2.0936 billion Korean won payment to a firm operated by political consultant Park Si-young was justified and transparently handled. Kim said private contracts involving party candidates or individuals were not inherently improper, but the price, service scope and process must withstand public scrutiny because taxpayer funds were involved. Choo’s election-finance report showed the payment represented about 38% of her 5.5637 billion won spending across 33 items, including campaign vehicles, LED billboards, banners, consulting and public opinion surveys. Kim also revisited controversy over a convention photograph released by Park that showed President Lee Jae Myung with Lee Hee-ja, head of the Korean Women’s Association, after allegations that former representative Jung Chung-rae had been cropped from the original. He said the party should investigate concerns rather than cover them up and should prevent political influence from affecting party-related contracts.