[Anchor]

Let's delve deeper into this with reporter Park Yerim, who is covering the Blue House.

Q. There was a mood of a 'forced appointment'... Why the change?

[Reporter Park Yerim : Well, when the Democratic Party unilaterally adopted the hearing report two days ago, the Blue House maintained that there was no change in its stance and that it was poised to push ahead with the appointment. However, it seems President Lee Jae-myung's press conference yesterday (the 18th) was ultimately decisive.]

[Yesterday, Press Conference : We are seeing various controversies arising during the public verification process. We will make a cautious decision while taking into consideration the public's expectations.]

[Reporter Park Yerim : A Blue House official conveyed that lawmaker Kim felt a heavy burden after watching the press conference, and after much deliberation, decided to resign in consultation with the party leadership. Although it took the form of a voluntary resignation—similar to the previous case of lawmaker Yong Hye-in—it is interpreted that the ruling bloc judged that pushing through with the appointment would make an additional drop in approval ratings inevitable.]

Q. Blue House Personnel Verification System Under Fire

[Reporter Park Yerim : Yes, President Lee also stated yesterday that he intends to re-examine the personnel verification system. First, regarding lawmaker Yong, criticisms had already emerged within the ruling party that failing to thoroughly check the issue of holding both a proportional representation lawmaker seat and a ministerial post in advance was a tactical failure. As for lawmaker Kim, suspicions regarding solicitation involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety already involved a prosecution suspension of indictment and a first-instance ruling on a related case. Criticisms asking whether the personnel verification system functioned properly are coming from both the ruling and opposition parties.]

Q. Prolonged Vacancy for Minister of Justice?

[Reporter Park Yerim : Yes, a replacement nominee for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family has not been named yet, and selecting a nominee for the Minister of Justice is also expected to take quite some time. There is a high possibility that the Prosecution Service, scheduled to be launched next month, will open with both the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Justice positions vacant. In addition, Kim Ji-yong, nominee for the Commissioner of the Major Crime Investigation Agency, is still undergoing additional verification, and strong opposition from the hardline pro-ruling camp supporters is likely a dilemma for President Lee. However, appointment procedures are expected to proceed for nominees such as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Hyung-il, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun, and Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee So-young.]

(Video by Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Kim Jin-won)