Chung pressed to withdraw from nomination as health minister
Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young attends a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
Education Minister nominee Kim In-chul steps down amid scholarship allegations
By Lee Hyo-jin
Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young was grilled at a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Tuesday, over allegations that he used his position to help his children enter a highly coveted medical school.
Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) demanded Chung turn down his nomination.
Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his earlier stance that he will not refuse the nomination, denying the allegations raised against him.
Since he was nominated on April 13, Chung has faced snowballing personal and family-related allegations, all of which he has flatly denied issuing 63 statements through the Ministry of Health and Welfare's website and holding a press conference on April 17.
Suspicions were raised that his daughter and son were able to transfer to Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in 2016 and 2017, respectively, allegedly using their father's influence while he was president of the affiliated Kyungpook National University Hospital.
Throughout the hearing, DPK lawmakers bombarded Chung with questions about the admissions process.
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“Surveys show that two out of three people think the nominee is not a suitable candidate for the position. Even in Daegu, where Chung has long served as a medical professional, 58.7 percent of people view that his explanations (regarding the allegations) are insufficient,” DPK Rep. Kim Sung-joo said.
Kim called on the nominee to take a “decisive action,” saying that calls for him not to become minister are growing among doctors' groups and even among members of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
“I am sorry to have caused public concern,” Chung said, while still denying the allegations and insisting that he has explained enough.
In response to Rep. Ko Min-jung's question asking why he wouldn't consider withdrawing his nomination, Chung said, “Despite the allegations, I believe there is no problem in terms of ethics.”
Yet criticisms also came from PPP lawmakers, who pointed out that the allegations against the nominee could be seen as ethical misconduct.
Rep. Kang Gi-yoon asked why Chung's children applied at the medical school of Kyungpook National University specifically, among other medical schools nationwide, which has led some to speculate about their father's involvement in the admissions process. Rep. Kim Mi-ae said that a minister should be subject to a higher ethical standard, considering that fairness is currently a sensitive issue in society, especially among the younger generations.
Education Minister nominee Kim In-chul announces his decision to no longer pursue approval for the government post, Tuesday. Yonhap
Earlier the same day, Education Minister nominee Kim In-chul refused his nomination amid snowballing personal and family allegations, three days before his confirmation hearing which was scheduled for Friday.
Kim, who had been tapped as the education minister as well as deputy prime minister for social affairs, was embroiled in controversy after it was found that and his son and daughter received Fulbright scholarships while he was president of the Korea Fulbright Alumni Association from 2012 to 2015.
He also faced other allegations such as verbal harassment of students, as well as previous accusations of embezzlement and violation of the Private School Act during his term as president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.