Justice nominee quits amid mounting pressure

Ahn Kyong-whan, the nominee for justice minister, addresses the controversies surrounding him at the Korea Legal Aid Corporation in southern Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

Ahn’s abrupt departure to complicate President’s cabinet-building

By Jung Min-ho

Ahn Kyong-whan, the nominee for justice minister, withdrew his nomination late Friday amid multiple allegations that raised serious questions over his qualifications as minister.

Ahn’s decision came 10 hours after a press conference in which he pledged to stay on through the confirmation hearing despite his controversial past record that caused a public uproar.

"I don't want to impede the Moon Jae-in government's reform drive," Ahn said in a statement Friday night. "Although I drop out, I believe the reforms in the prosecution and justice ministry are important and will support the drive as a private citizen."

He became the first nominee to drop out as President Moon has been struggling to fill his Cabinet posts amid growing resistance from opposition parties over several of his minister nominees, including Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha.

There was no immediate response from Cheong Wa Dae, which had previously hinted at withdrawing Ahn’s nomination if evidence continues to surface and discredit the nominee.

Earlier in the day, the 69-year-old admitted to secretly filing a marriage certificate without the consent of his unwitting bride and making comments many consider “very misogynistic,” but he said these mistakes reveal only a small part, not all, of how he has lived.

“I was blinded by selfishness and caused distress to the woman and her family 40 years ago. It was my biggest, inexcusable mistake,” he told reporters. “I have reflected upon it since then, and my current wife knows all about it.”

Ahn filed a marriage certificate in 1975 after stealing the seal of a woman when he was 27. The woman, surnamed Kim, later filed for an annulment with a Seoul court and won the case.

In his book titled, “What is a Man,” which was published last year, he described women as “necessary for all drinking sessions” and said they never end up homeless because “they can proudly live as prostitutes.”

Specifically about Korean women, he noted, “They want everything. Some women say they want a funny guy, but they also want a luxury brand bag, which makes Korean men pitiful.”

Ahn said he did not mean to belittle women and urged people to understand the sentences “in context.”

“I tried to give people a learning opportunity by exposing the nature and desires of men,” he said.

But these are only two of many allegations brought against him. Ahn, the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, is also accused of pressuring the principal of his son’s high school not to expel him over a rule violation in 2014 when he was a Seoul National University professor. Drunk driving and thesis plagiarism are among the others.

Ahn denied the accusation that he abused his power to protect his son, and did not address other allegations.

“They are my mistakes,” he said. “But it is not right that my whole life should be denied by the mistakes.”

Chung Woo-taik, the floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, said he is the “worst nominee for justice minister ever,” urging Moon to withdraw his nomination.

Given all his “criminal acts,” Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Bareun Party also said he is unsuitable for the post.

The People’s Party criticized his “shocking arrogance” in a statement.

“Ahn should realize he is not the only person who is capable of reforming the prosecution,” the party said. “A majority of the people believe he should not be the leader of the reformation.”