President Lee Jae-myung said he has "not yet reached a final conclusion" on whether to appoint Kim Seung-won as justice minister. The remarks are read as signaling caution about pushing the appointment through as public opinion has cooled over allegations surrounding the nominee. Lee also indicated he plans to review the presidential office's personnel vetting system as a whole.
Speaking at a news conference held at the Yeongbingwan guest house of the Blue House on the 18th, Lee said, "We believe we made the best possible choice, but we are watching various controversies emerge during the public vetting process." He added, "I will decide carefully, taking into account the nominee's capabilities and the public's expectations."
The deepening deliberation is attributed to worsening public sentiment toward Kim. According to an automated response survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) on the 14th and 15th, 25.1% of respondents supported Kim's appointment while 52.1% opposed it. With opposition more than double the level of support, the political cost of forcing the appointment through is seen as high. Some in political circles suggest Lee could decide to withdraw the nomination, given his stated intention to weigh the public's expectations. Lee is expected to make a final decision after assessing public opinion and views within the ruling bloc over the weekend.
Rejecting Kim, however, would also be difficult. Losing Kim after Yong Hye-in, the former nominee for minister of gender equality and family, would itself carry a heavy political cost. The situation is further complicated because the Democratic Party of Korea adopted the confirmation hearing report on Kim on its own, meaning the president would appear to be personally scuttling the nomination.
Within the Democratic Party, there are concerns that dropping Kim could trigger a backlash inside the party. The party is currently pushing back hard against allegations of influence-peddling over a new drug raised by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, arguing that the claims are not factual and were built illegally on prosecution investigation materials. If the president withdraws the appointment under these circumstances, it could be seen as effectively accepting Han's claims. One Democratic Party lawmaker said, "Dropping Kim would only raise Han's profile."
Lee also spoke that day about the need to improve the personnel vetting system. "We did our best, but additional problems are being found, and judgments different from ours are being raised," he said. "That, too, is our fault for failing to anticipate and prepare for such things." He added, "I intend to re-examine the personnel system. Even so, it is hard to guarantee that no problems at all will arise."
