〈Anchor〉
The presidential office maintains its stance that it will watch the confirmation hearings for both Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in, as they were nominated through proper institutional systems. However, opinions regarding Yong's unsuitability are growing within the ruling bloc. Concerns are also being raised over whether the presidential office's personnel verification system functioned properly.
Here is report by Reporter Kang Cheongwan.
〈Reporter〉
A presidential official stated today (the 8th) regarding Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, and Yong Hye-in, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, that the personnel confirmation system itself serves as a public verification process for nominees. The official added that since they were nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the chairperson of the presidential personnel committee, they must go through the confirmation hearings.
This reaffirms the stance to monitor and make judgments following the National Assembly confirmation hearings, which are set to begin next week.
Additionally, the presidential office stated that media reports claiming Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok conveyed his opinion on Yong's unsuitability to President Lee Jae-myung before Lee's departure for France the day before yesterday are untrue.
Representative Kim also explained that it was a false report, though his nuance was somewhat different.
[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader (Democratic Party TV): As everyone knows, there are various opinions inside and outside the party, and I could synthesize them and voice them, but it is not true that I conveyed such remarks at the airport.]
Within the ruling bloc, concerns specifically regarding nominee Yong are being publicly voiced.
[Park Hong-keun / Minister of Planning and Budget (YTN Radio - Chang Sung-chul's News Myeongdang): Excessive ambition or aggressive moves seem to run more counter to the public sentiment and fairness, and public opinion is swaying more strongly in that direction...]
Inside the ruling bloc, voices of concern are also questioning whether the presidential personnel verification system is functioning properly.
In September of last year, immediately following the successive withdrawals of Kang Sun-woo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and Lee Jin-sook, nominee for Minister of Education, the presidential office revived the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Personnel, which had been abolished during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
However, personnel controversies have continued, including the withdrawal of Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, right after her confirmation hearing last January.
Inside and outside the presidential office, criticisms point to the limitations of a personnel system where security is prioritized and only a very small number of high-ranking officials are involved. Criticisms are also raised that the matter of nominee Yong resigning from her proportional representation lawmaker seat should have been coordinated prior to her nomination.
In response, the presidential office only stated a principled position that it will establish and strengthen the personnel verification system so that it falls short of nothing expected by the public.
(Photo: Yonhap News / Video by: Jung Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung | Video Editing by: Oh Young-taek | Design by: Lee Jong-jung)
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