Ahn Cheol-soo: "If President Lee Knew Yong Hye-in Would Hold Both Posts, He Is an Accomplice; If He Did Not, He Is Incompetent"

[Financial News] Ahn Cheol-soo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, continued his criticism of Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and called for her nomination to be withdrawn.
On the 3rd, Ahn Cheol-soo posted a message on his Facebook page titled, "President Lee Jae Myung must clarify whether he nominated Yong Hye-in knowing that she intended to hold both a ministerial post and a parliamentary seat."
Ahn Cheol-soo lashed out, saying, "Public anger toward ministerial nominee Yong Hye-in is boiling over. That is because, under the protection of the Democratic Party of Korea, she secured a second proportional-representation term and is now demanding, as if it were only natural, the privilege of also serving as a minister."
He continued, "After reports emerged that Cheong Wa Dae had conveyed a negative stance on holding both posts, it immediately announced that the reports were false. This is difficult to understand. Does Cheong Wa Dae not care if nominee Yong holds both a ministerial post and a parliamentary seat?"
He then sharpened his criticism, asking, "What on earth is President Lee's true intention? Did he put nominee Yong before the public even after confirming that she would give up nothing, or did he nominate her without even checking her intentions?"
Ahn Cheol-soo declared, "To clarify who is responsible for this mess, President Lee must disclose whether he knew nominee Yong's position in advance. If he nominated her despite knowing, he is an accomplice tainted by the same privilege; if he did not know, he is incompetent and has forgotten the standards expected by the public."
He added, "Cheong Wa Dae's personnel line must also answer. Kang Hoon-sik, the chief of staff who loudly proclaimed, 'I am the chair of the personnel committee'; the Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Management, who is still working behind the scenes despite a series of personnel fiascos; and President Lee's closest aide, Yong Chae Kim, the presidential secretary for personnel affairs, must clarify whether they confirmed nominee Yong's intention to hold both posts and reported it to the president."
He further stated, "If they did not even ask about her intention to hold both posts, they should rightly be dismissed for mishandling their duties. If they knew, recommended her, and proceeded with the announcement, Cheong Wa Dae's personnel vetting function has been paralyzed."
Ahn Cheol-soo said, "The flames of public anger have spread from nominee Yong herself to her family and the Basic Income Party. It is only a matter of time before they reach Cheong Wa Dae and President Lee."
He added, "Before that happens, President Lee must tell the public, 'I did not know' or 'I knew, but I thought about it carelessly,' ask for forgiveness, and withdraw the nomination. Please do not test the public's patience."
Earlier, Ahn Cheol-soo had criticized nominee Yong for saying that she would retain her proportional-representation parliamentary seat even after being appointed minister.
He denounced her, saying, "Why should public funds be poured into a party that treats Yong Hye-in as its 'leader'? If nominee Yong is appointed minister as President Lee wishes, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will ultimately become another habitat for Yong Hye-in's followers."
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter