Monday, September 21, 2026

Jang Dong-hyuk: "Not Kang Shin-chul, but 'Gansin Cheolgeomin'... Kim Hyun-ji Must Appear at Parliamentary Inspection"

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2026-09-20 10:51:52
Updated
2026-09-20 10:51:52
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party. Yonhap News Agency

[Financial News] Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, called on President Lee Jae Myung on the 20th to withdraw the nomination of Kang Shin-chul for Minister of National Defense, saying, "He is not Kang Shin-chul, but 'Gansin-chul.' In fact, 'Gansin Cheolgeomin.'" He also urged Kim Hyun-ji, head of the Presidential Office's auxiliary office, to appear at the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration, saying she should be held accountable for a series of personnel controversies.
In a Facebook post that day, Jang claimed, "The people drove Yong Hye-in and Kim Seung-won out," adding, "An individual's wrongdoing was merely the trigger; the people rejected President Lee Jae Myung's administration of state affairs."
He continued, "The public's scrutiny is now focused on Kang Shin-chul," and criticized him by saying, "The Minister of National Defense is supposed to protect national security, but throughout the confirmation hearing, Kang Shin-chul clearly showed himself to be a minister for the regime's security."
Jang raised the fact that Kang had not referred to North Korea as the "main enemy" during his confirmation hearing, along with issues involving military academy reforms and the transfer of Wartime Operational Control (OPCON). At his confirmation hearing on the 16th, Kang responded, "Our governments have not used the term 'main enemy' since 2004, regardless of which administration was in power," adding, "The North Korean regime and the North Korean military are our enemies." Regarding the military academies, he expressed a willingness to pursue reform but said the current government proposal needed improvement in some areas and that he would listen to various opinions.
Jang said, "All of this is diametrically opposed to the will of the people. They are merely the things President Lee Jae Myung and this regime want," adding, "We can never entrust the defense of the Republic of Korea to such a person. President Lee must immediately withdraw Kang Shin-chul's nomination."
He then expanded his criticism to the cabinet reshuffle as a whole. Jang said, "Those responsible for the personnel fiasco must also be held clearly accountable," and claimed that Lee Hyoung-il, nominee for Minister of Finance and Economy, and Hong Ji-sun, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, were also unfit for office.
Targeting Kim Hyun-ji in particular, he said, "The public is asking who led this botched cabinet reshuffle. Was it Kim Hyun-ji, 'Man-sa Hyeon-tong'—the person through whom everything goes?" He added, "Kim Hyun-ji, head of the Presidential Office's auxiliary office, must appear at the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration."
Jang added, "If the Democratic Party of Korea refuses, it is an admission that it was an accomplice to the personnel fiasco," and said, "President Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party of Korea must stop defying public sentiment."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter