Unification Minister nominee in hot seat over past Facebook posts

Kim Yeon-chul, Unification minister nominee, answers questions at the Office of the Inter-Korean Dialogue, Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Unification Minister nominee Kim Yeon-chul deactivated his Facebook account Tuesday after being embroiled in a controversy over his past posts against politicians including President Moon Jae-in.

Kim said that he temporarily deactivated his Facebook account as he was worried about being contacted by strangers and hacking. He also apologized for what he wrote on his social media account. “I used some inappropriate expressions when making political comments on North Korea policy and inter-Korean relations. I feel really sorry and I apologize. I will be more cautious when saying something in the future,” he said.

His moves came after the main opposition Liberty Korea Party called for withdrawal of his appointment for his political stance on North Korea amid criticism claiming that he is not qualified as a high-ranking official for making blunt remarks.

In March, 2015, the nominee criticized Moon, then leader of the main opposition party after posting a picture of Moon in military uniform visiting a battalion on Ganghwa Island to mark the fifth anniversary of the South Korean vessel Cheonan sinking, saying, “Politicians should be more serious. They are doing the show wearing military clothes.”

He also called Choo Mi-ae, former chairwoman of the DPK an infected zombie while calling Kim Chong-in, then emergency body leader of the DPK a piece of gum being chewed and discarded by Park.

In December, 2016, he described Park, then former president, as a person with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) and autism.

His parliamentary hearing is scheduled to be held on March. 26.