DPK in a Pickle Over Yong's Dual Office Stance; Firm Defense of Kim Seung-won

[Anchor]

With ministerial nominee Yong Hye-in insisting on holding onto her proportional representation lawmaker seat while effectively digging in her heels, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is finding itself in an awkward position. Even DPK Leader Kim Min-seok stepped in, exerting indirect pressure by stating that the public voice must be respected. On the other hand, the party is actively shielding ministerial nominee Kim Seung-won.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has more.

[Reporter]

Regarding Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in sticking to her stance on concurrently holding her proportional representation lawmaker seat, DPK Leader Kim Min-seok made the following remarks:

[Kim Min-seok / DPK Leader: I am hearing the many concerns and criticisms out there, and I, too, am giving it deep thought.]

While he did not directly demand that she resign from her lawmaker post, he noted that it is an issue that can be decided even before the confirmation hearing, effectively pressing nominee Yong to make a choice.

[Kim Min-seok / DPK Leader: We need to reflect while respecting the various voices and judgments of the public as they are.]

An official from the DPK leadership explained, "Representative Kim is aware of the gravity of the issue and believes there is a need to clear up the dual office controversy before the confirmation hearing."

Voices of concern continued to emerge within the DPK.

[Yoon Kun-young / DPK Lawmaker (MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus'): This kind of issue is what makes it tricky. It is not a matter of whether it is illegal or unlawful; it is a matter of attitude and sentiment.]

The Rebuilding Korea Party pointed out that the core of the problem lies in the distorted structure itself, where the major rival parties created satellite parties to secure proportional representation seats.

[Kim Jun-hyung / Rebuilding Korea Party Floor Leader: If we leave the structure as it is—where minor parties have to resort to roundabout ways like satellite parties and allied proportional representation—controversies are bound to repeat.]

Unlike nominee Yong, the DPK appears to be rallying in unison to defend Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won.

Regarding nominee Kim's "new drug favor allegation," the party is pushing back by arguing that it was "merely the delivery of a public interest petition." As for the disposition of suspension of indictment rather than non-indictment handed down to nominee Kim, the party is claiming it was a "reckless overreach by the prosecution under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration."

(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Jeon Min-gyu | Footage provided by: DPK TV)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.