Kim Nam-kuk to Yong Hye-in: "You kept responding point by point... It is difficult to defend you"

[Financial News] Kim Nam-kuk of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized the way Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, addressed allegations surrounding her. He said she should have paid greater attention to public sentiment and expectations at her press conference.
Kim Nam-kuk appeared on MBC’s “News Oejeon” on September 11 and assessed the press conference held by Yong Hye-in the previous day. He said, "I wondered whether responding point by point, in a way that made her appear to be fighting with the public, would really be viewed favorably by the public at this point. I thought it was inappropriate."
Kim Nam-kuk said the controversy surrounding Yong Hye-in was different in nature from an issue involving a violation of the law. "Shouldn’t she have made more of an effort to meet the public’s expectations?" he asked. He added, "The criticism Yong Hye-in is facing now is not about the expedient, evasive or illegal practices that previous ministerial nominees were criticized for. It concerns the public’s feelings and sentiment."
He also said that she needed to adopt a more humble attitude when explaining the allegations. Kim Nam-kuk stated, "Even if the nominee has something to explain, shouldn’t she show a more humble attitude before the public and respond at the public’s level, rather than appearing to argue or pick a fight?"
At a press conference held the previous day at the National Assembly Communication Center, Yong Hye-in spent about 34 minutes rebutting the allegations surrounding her. She also said she would not accept calls to resign either from her proportional-representation seat or from her position as nominee for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Kim Nam-kuk also said the Democratic Party of Korea was in a situation where it would be difficult to actively defend Yong Hye-in. He explained that public opinion limited the party’s room to respond. "The nominee may hope that the Democratic Party of Korea will actively defend her, but this reveals the difficult position in which the party finds itself: given the current state of public opinion, it is not easy to defend her," he said. He added, "There is also an aspect of the situation that makes it difficult for the Democratic Party of Korea itself to step forward and actively defend her."
He also addressed the issue of Yong Hye-in’s party affiliation. Referring to the fact that she belongs to the Basic Income Party, Kim Nam-kuk said she was "in any event, a lawmaker affiliated with an opposition party." He continued, "Defending her own party affiliation through the Basic Income Party is a way of respecting the Basic Income Party."
Regarding Cheong Wa Dae’s statement that it would “watch the confirmation hearing” before deciding whether to appoint Yong Hye-in, he said it should not be viewed as a signal that the appointment would be pushed through.
Kim Nam-kuk cited remarks made the previous day on YTN (Yonhap Television News) radio by Hong Ik-pyo, Cheong Wa Dae’s senior secretary for political affairs. Hong Ik-pyo said of the issue involving Yong Hye-in, "We are looking at it rather sensitively." Kim Nam-kuk said, "Given this message, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to understand it as a political message indicating that, rather than pushing ahead with the appointment, Cheong Wa Dae is seriously considering accepting the public’s will, whether through the confirmation hearing or even before it?" He added, "It would be a mistaken interpretation to say that Cheong Wa Dae will push ahead with the appointment."
Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae said, regarding the controversy surrounding Yong Hye-in, that the nominee should be given an opportunity to explain herself. Cheong Wa Dae stated, "It is Cheong Wa Dae’s position that the nominee should be given an opportunity to explain herself to the public."
Kang Yoo-jung, Cheong Wa Dae’s senior spokesperson, also said at a briefing that the nominee needed an opportunity to explain herself through the confirmation hearing. Kang Yoo-jung said, "Those nominated to serve as ministers should have an opportunity through the confirmation hearing to state their positions on their suitability for the job and on various allegations. It is right to provide them with an opportunity to explain themselves to the public."
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter