Cheong Wa Dae: "We Have Not Received a Request from the Democratic Party Leadership to Withdraw Yong Hye-in’s Nomination or for Her Resignation"

【Financial News Seoul and Paris, France = Reporters Choi Jong-geun and Seong Seok-woo】Cheong Wa Dae rejected reports that the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea had conveyed an opinion that Yong Hye-in, the nominee for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, was unqualified.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said on the 8th, "Reports that the Democratic Party of Korea leadership conveyed an opinion to Cheong Wa Dae that nominee Yong Hye-in was unqualified are completely untrue." The official added, "Cheong Wa Dae has not received a request from the party leadership to withdraw the nomination or for the nominee’s resignation."
Earlier, a media outlet reported that the Democratic Party of Korea leadership was said to have conveyed an opinion to Cheong Wa Dae that Yong was unqualified. Cheong Wa Dae has denied the report.
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok also appeared on the YouTube channel Democratic Party TV that day and said reports that he had conveyed such an opinion to the president at the airport were false reports that did not reflect the facts.

Regarding the recent controversies surrounding Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in, nominees for minister of the Ministry of Justice and minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, respectively, Cheong Wa Dae also stated, "As they were nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the chair of the Personnel Committee, they must undergo confirmation hearings."
A Cheong Wa Dae official indicated this position, saying, "It is difficult for Cheong Wa Dae to discuss the specific personnel vetting process."
Controversy over Kim’s eligibility has continued over alleged solicitation related to clinical trials for a new COVID-19 drug, while Yong has faced questions over concurrently serving as a proportional-representation lawmaker and a minister.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said, "We will establish and strengthen the personnel vetting system so that it meets the public’s expectations, while understanding that the confirmation hearing system itself serves as a public vetting process for nominees."
This reaffirmed Cheong Wa Dae’s position that it is not yet at a stage where it would withdraw the nominees’ appointments or decide their futures based solely on the controversies raised so far.
Accordingly, it is expected that judgments on their eligibility will be made after the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea reviews the allegations raised during the confirmation hearings and the nominees’ explanations.

[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Seong Seok-woo Reporter