PARIS — The presidential office reaffirmed on the 7th that Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in must go through parliamentary confirmation hearings, saying they were "nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the personnel committee chair." The statement made clear there will be no withdrawal of either nomination before the hearings, despite a range of allegations surrounding the two.
A presidential office official accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on his state visit to France told reporters at the press center in Paris that the confirmation hearing system is, as the office understands it, a process of public vetting of nominees. Asked about criticism that the vetting system itself is flawed, the official said it was difficult to discuss the specifics of the process, but added that the office would build and strengthen a vetting framework that leaves nothing wanting by public standards.
The office also rejected as "entirely untrue" a report that the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea had conveyed an opinion that Yong was unfit for the post. Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok likewise called the report inaccurate on the party's YouTube channel, dismissing as "an overwrought work of fiction" the claim that such views were relayed at Seoul Airport shortly before the president departed.
Even so, concern is growing within the ruling bloc that keeping Yong on could weigh on the administration's governing agenda. Park Hong-keun, minister of planning and budget who concurrently serves as a sitting Democratic Party lawmaker, urged a decision in a radio interview the same day, saying that as a young politician Yong needs to take into account sentiment among younger voters that she is receiving excessive benefits.
With the nomination controversies compounded by falling approval ratings, the presidential office is also considering having Lee address the public directly to explain his position. Hong Ihk-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said on the YouTube program "News Factory" that the office sees fractures within the president's support base as the biggest factor behind the decline.
Asked by the host whether a direct appeal by the president to his base was among the options, Hong said the office was reviewing the matter from multiple angles without ruling out any format, adding that approaches such as a one-on-one interview, rather than a press conference, were "all included in the review."
Hong said he expects Lee to state his position on the question of a second term "more clearly" in the process. The remarks were read as suggesting the president may publicly rule out pursuing a constitutional amendment to allow re-election. On the controversy over withdrawing prosecutions, Hong said the president's focus lies more on fabricated indictments, adding that if fabrication is clearly established, withdrawal of the charges could then naturally come under consideration.
On the debate over deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz, Hong drew a line, saying the situation may not amount to effective participation in combat as initially reported, and that it is not the scenario that Democratic Party supporters or backers of the Lee administration fear.
