"Will Watch Until Confirmation Hearings"... Ruling Bloc Leans Toward "Yong Hye-in Unqualified"

[Anchor]

The presidential office has maintained its stance that it will observe the confirmation hearings for both ministerial nominees Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in, as they were nominated through the proper institutional system. However, within the ruling bloc, opinions deeming nominee Yong unqualified are growing stronger. Concerns are also being raised over whether the presidential personnel verification system is functioning properly.

This report is by reporter Kang Cheongwan.

[Reporter]

A presidential 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. The official added that since they were nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the presidential personnel committee chairperson, they must go through the confirmation hearings.

This signals a stance of making a judgment after watching the National Assembly confirmation hearings, which begin next week.

Additionally, the presidential office stated that media reports claiming Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok conveyed an opinion that nominee Yong is unqualified to President Lee Jae-myung before his departure for France the day before yesterday were 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): As everyone knows, there are various opinions inside and outside the party, and I could synthesize them and speak about them, but the claim that I delivered such opinions at the airport is contrary to the fact.]

Within the ruling bloc, concerns specifically regarding nominee Yong are being openly voiced.

[Park Hong-keun / Minister of Planning and Budget (YTN Radio Chang Sung-chul's News Myeongdang): Excessive ambition and a stretch seem to run more counter to public sentiment and fairness, and public opinion seems to be moving heavily in that direction...]

There are also voices within the ruling bloc worrying about whether the presidential personnel verification system is operating correctly.

Following the successive withdrawals of Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Kang Sun-woo and Minister of Education nominee Lee Jin-sook in September of last year, the presidential office revived the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Personnel office, which had been abolished during 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 immediately following her confirmation hearing last January.

Criticism inside and outside the presidential office points to the limitations of a personnel system where only a tiny fraction of high-ranking officials are involved with a top priority on security. Critics also argue that the issue of whether nominee Yong would resign from her proportional representative lawmaker position should have been coordinated prior to her nomination.

In response, the presidential office maintained a conventional stance, stating only that it will build and strengthen the personnel verification system so that it does not fall short of public expectations.

(Camera: 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.