Gender minister nominee apologizes over power abuse allegations

Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo apologized to her former aides, Monday, amid growing backlash over allegations of power abuse, expressing regret and acknowledging that some may have been hurt by her actions.

The allegations against Kang have been taken all the more seriously given the ministry’s responsibility to protect marginalized communities. There has been heightened public attention on the ministry, which is predicted to have an expanded role under the Lee Jae Myung government, a dramatic shift from the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration's plan to abolish it.

Kang, also a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), faces allegations of power abuse, including requiring aides at her office to undertake personal errands and replacing 46 staff members over a five-year period, as well as suspicions of failing to disclose assets in her financial report.

"I sincerely apologize for the controversy caused by my actions," Kang said during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul. "I extend my deepest apologies to the aides who may have been hurt in the process."

Tensions between the ruling and opposition parties escalated quickly, in what has become one of the most contentious confirmation hearings of the Lee administration. Just 15 minutes after the hearing began, lawmakers of the rival parties clashed sharply over the nominee, forcing a brief suspension of proceedings.

Opposition lawmakers highlighted the power abuse allegations, including that Kang ordered aides to undertake her personal tasks — such as repairing a toilet at her home and disposing of household trash — fueling accusations of workplace abuse.

In response, Kang explained that the toilet incident involved a sudden leak, and she had simply sought advice and assistance from staff at her local constituency office due to the unexpected nature of the situation.

Regarding the trash disposal allegation, Kang said the incident stemmed from leftover food she had packed the night before to eat the next morning in her car.

"I didn’t finish it and accidentally left it in the vehicle when I got out — that was my mistake," she said, emphasizing that she had no intention of deliberately ordering aides to throw it away.

Kang also firmly denied any intention to take legal action against aides who reported the abuse allegations to the media.

It was also noted that since being elected to the National Assembly in 2020, Kang has hired 51 aides and dismissed 46 of them. Notably, all 14 staffers who joined her office last year were removed within the same year.

While staff turnover is common in lawmakers' offices, the scale and frequency of departures from Kang’s office are considered highly unusual.

Kang said the number of replacements was not 46 but 28.

Labor rights group Workplace Gapjil 119 and other civic society organizations have strongly opposed Kang’s nomination, arguing that someone facing unresolved allegations of power abuse is unfit to lead the ministry — a post responsible for safeguarding the rights of the socially vulnerable and promoting gender equality and human rights.

Kang is also under scrutiny for allegedly failing to report stock options worth 66.4 million won ($48,168) tied to a biotech company where her husband previously worked as an auditor.

According to Rep. Cho Eun-hee of the main opposition People Power Party, Kang’s husband worked without pay at an unlisted biotech firm specializing in pharmaceutical development, and in return received 10,000 stock options at an exercise price of 6,640 won per share. The company was later listed on the Kosdaq. However, the stock options were not included in Kang’s asset disclosure submitted to the National Assembly.

Under the Public Service Ethics Act, public officials are required to report both stock options and shares in unlisted companies.