2 nominees quit after confirmation hearings
Two of seven nominees quit due to alleged ethical lapses
By Lee Min-hyung
Cho Dong-ho
Choi Jeong-ho
President Moon Jae-in canceled nomination of KAIST professor Cho Dong-ho as science and technology minister, Sunday, hours after Choi Jeong-ho withdrew as land and transportation minister nominee.
Cho and Choi were among seven people Moon nominated to ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle on March 8.
Opposition parties had called on Moon to withdraw nominations of all seven, claiming they are all unqualified to lead ministries. Cho and Choi, especially, were the main political targets after various allegations of their ethical lapses were raised at confirmation hearings.
The incidents may deal a further political blow to President Moon. They came after presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom resigned from the post, Friday, over allegations of property speculation.
“We came to the conclusion that Cho failed to meet public expectations as a minister nominee considering the level of his integrity shown in a confirmation hearing,” Moon's top press aide Yoon Do-han said. “Moon has canceled the nomination of Cho. Choi also resigned as land minister nominee due to allegations of housing speculation. The other five nominees will stay.”
Cho was at the center of media attention following the confirmation hearing during which lawmakers took issue with a series of his ethical problems. He was suspected of making unnecessary overseas business trips to cities where his son is staying.
Cho joined the 9th World Biomarkers Congress in Madrid for eight days from Dec. 2 in 2017. The conference was organized by OMICS International, which has been sued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for carrying out deceptive academic practices.
Earlier on Sunday, Choi announced he would voluntarily step down as land minister nominee, amid a widening controversy surrounding his alleged real estate speculation.
The ministry holds the authority to map out the nation's real estate policies, so it was essential for a potential nominee not to have engaged in any speculative activities.
But Choi turned out to have obtained three houses in the nation's most speculative areas, such as southern Seoul, Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province and the administrative city of Sejong.
This is in contrast to the Moon administration's real estate policy drive. Since taking office in 2017, the incumbent administration has played hardball against any acts of real estate speculation by introducing tough regulations on the market, urging those who own more than two houses to sell ones not being used for residential purposes.
At around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Choi expressed his decision to step down in an email to reporters.
He said: “I step down from the post, and I am grateful to those who have supported me.”
Choi, however, did not comment further on his decision.
Political parties offered mixed assessments.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the progressive Justice Party said they respect Moon's decision.
“The President would have thought deeply about it, but we respect his decision to make an early call,” DPK spokesman Lee Hae-sik said. “Since it is a decision that considered the public sentiment and views, the Assembly now needs to join hands to deal with other issues for the public.”
Conservative parties ― the Liberty Korea Party and the Bareunmirae Party ― called for a sincere apology from Moon.
“Cheong Wa Dae knows better than anyone else that its minister nominees were not qualified for the job,” LKP floor spokesman Lee Yang-soo said. “The latest action is only a move to prevent further political damage.”