"Watching Until the Hearing"…Ruling Camp Shows "Unqualified" Sentiment Toward Yong Hye-in

[Anchor]

The presidential office maintains its stance that, since both nominee Kim Seung-won and nominee Yong Hye-in were nominated through the proper system, it will monitor the confirmation hearings. However, within the ruling camp, opinions regarding nominee Yong's unsuitability are growing. Concerns are also being raised over whether the presidential personnel verification system is functioning properly.

Reporter Kang Cheongwan has the details.

[Reporter]

A Cheong Wa Dae official stated today (the 8th) regarding Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won and Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in that the confirmation hearing system itself is a public verification process, and since they were nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the presidential personnel committee chairman, they must go through the hearings.

This reaffirms the stance that the office will observe and make a judgment after the National Assembly confirmation hearings begin next week.

Additionally, the presidential office stated that media reports claiming Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok conveyed opinions on nominee Yong's unsuitability to President Lee Jae-myung before his departure for France the day before yesterday are false.

Leader Kim also explained that it was a false report, though his nuance was somewhat different.

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader (Democratic Party TV): Everyone knows that there are various opinions inside and outside the party, and I could synthesize them and convey them as well, but the claim that I delivered such remarks at the airport is contrary to the fact.]

Within the ruling camp, concerns specifically regarding nominee Yong are being voiced publicly.

[Park Hong-keun / Minister of Planning and Budget (YTN Radio Chang Sung-chul's News Myeongdang): Excessive ambition or forced moves go against the public sentiment and fairness, and public opinion seems to be flowing strongly in that direction...]

Voices of concern also exist within the ruling camp over whether the presidential personnel verification system is operating correctly.

In September of last year, immediately after Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Kang Sun-woo and Minister of Education nominee Lee Jin-sook dropped out consecutively, the presidential office revived the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Personnel Office, which had been abolished under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

However, personnel controversies have continued, including the withdrawal of Minister of Planning and Budget nominee Lee Hye-hoon's nomination right after her confirmation hearing last January.

Inside and outside the presidential office, criticisms point out that there are limitations to a personnel system where security is prioritized and only a handful of high-ranking officials are involved, and that the issue of nominee Yong resigning from her proportional representation lawmaker position should have been coordinated prior to her nomination.

Regarding this, the presidential office only stated a principled position that it will equip and strengthen the personnel verification system so that it falls short of nothing expected by the public.

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video reporting: Jung Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung / Video editing: Oh Young-taek, Design: Lee Jong-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.