▲ People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok speaks during a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st.
Following President Lee Jae-myung's Cabinet reshuffle today (31st), the People Power Party (PPP) launched a barrage of criticism, zeroing in on Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in as an appointment running counter to public sentiment.
In particular, the PPP blasted Yong as an "icon of greed" and vowed to block her appointment, raising suspicions over why she refused to resign her parliamentary seat despite winning consecutive proportional representation mandates through satellite parties, and why her husband serves as a party official for the Basic Income Party, where Yong serves as floor leader.
Five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun wrote on Facebook, "Nominee Yong secured her legislative badge solely through the benefits of a coalition proportional representation system linked to the Democratic Party, which sparked satellite party controversies. This is an insult to the 2030 younger generation, who hold a strong aversion to free-riding."
Four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo posted on Facebook, "As rumors suggest, is this happening because if the Basic Income Party becomes an extra-parliamentary party, her spouse's salary cannot be covered by the National Election Commission? At this point, should it even be called the Basic Income Party or rather a Family Income Party?"
Lawmaker Kim Jae-seop also criticized on Facebook, "Are they using taxpayers' money as basic income for the Basic Income Party? If they are afraid of the Basic Income Party becoming an extra-parliamentary party, that is a political risk Yong Hye-in should shoulder individually, not a problem to be patched up with lawmakers' pay."
Lawmaker Cho Ji-yeon urged her immediate resignation on Facebook, stating, "Hypocrisy and impudence may fit the Lee Jae-myung administration like a glove, but they earn a failing grade from the public."
The PPP also launched concentrated attacks over Yong's leading role in abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers.
Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon criticized in a commentary, "How can they talk about gender equality after appointing someone who spearheaded the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers, which opened the gates of hell for women and ordinary citizens?"
Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo fiercely denounced Yong on Facebook as the "vanguard of gender division," snapping, "While shouting for women's safety in words, behind the scenes she took the lead in the Democratic Party's abolition of supplementary investigation powers for a paltry slice of power. She is not qualified to be the Minister of Gender Equality and Family."
The PPP also mounted an offensive against Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won, describing him as a figure who has spearheaded a special counsel bill for canceling indictments and the deletion of the crime of professional negligence, arguing the appointment is solely intended to push through the cancellation of President Lee's trial.
Floor Leader Jung Chong-shik criticized during a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly today, "They have decided to entrust the ministry overseeing trial cancellations to the vanguard of canceling the president's indictment. This shows they intend to completely reject demands for state affairs innovation."
Other Supreme Council members joined the onslaught, unanimously labeling Kim's nomination a "crime-planning Cabinet reshuffle," the "president's personal lawyer," and turning the "Ministry of Justice into a dedicated department for erasing the president's crimes."
Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook lambasted, "No matter how much they look down on the public, the Minister of Justice is the ultimate bastion responsible for the rule of law in the Republic of Korea. Appointing such a person means they believe the 'Minister of Justice only needs to take charge of the president's peace of mind,' which is a direct challenge to the public."
Spokesperson Ham In-kyung also criticized in a commentary, "Nominee Kim is a co-representative of the so-called 'lawmakers' meeting to promote the cancellation of President Lee's indictment and a parliamentary investigation.' The public demanded change, but what came back was an 'obstinate appointment that defies public sentiment.'"
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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