For Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in, the Path Is Confirmation Hearings, Not Withdrawal
The Blue House has taken the position that Kim Seung-won, the justice minister nominee facing allegations of lobbying over a new COVID-19 drug, and Yong Hye-in, the gender equality minister nominee embroiled in controversy over holding ministerial and parliamentary posts at the same time, should go through confirmation hearings rather than see their nominations withdrawn. The Blue House added that it has received no requests for either nominee to withdraw or step down ahead of being summoned to a hearing. Meeting reporters on the 7th (local time) during his state visit to France, President Lee Jae-myung said, "The confirmation hearing system itself is a process of public vetting," adding, "As nominees designated through the personnel system, they must go through confirmation hearings." He also vowed to establish and strengthen a personnel vetting framework so that the process does not fall short of the public's standards.
It was reported that the Democratic Party leadership had conveyed to the Blue House its view that nominee Yong is unfit for the post. Appearing on the party's YouTube channel Minjudang TV, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok dismissed as "a false report" the story that he had delivered that assessment to President Lee at Seoul Airport. With suspicions surrounding nominee Kim and controversy over the Blue House's vetting continuing, the Democratic Party has gone as far as forming a response team to counter the allegations.
The Basic Income Party, to which nominee Yong belongs, rejected calls for her to voluntarily step down, saying, "Yong Hye-in and the Basic Income Party will run together to ensure the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family delivers results."
Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach agreement in talks that day on the schedule for nominee Yong's confirmation hearing. The Democratic Party pushed for the hearing to be held on the 18th, while the People Power Party argued for the 21st.
