Decision on appointments of justice, gender ministers to be made after confirmation hearings: official
Summary
A presidential official said Thursday that decisions on Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in will be made after their confirmation hearings. Seong Ghi-hong said the government will listen to what the nominees say during the question-and-answer process. He also said no final decision has been made on South Korea’s response to the United States’ reported request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
- Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in were tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle late last month.
- Kim has faced allegations that he illegally lobbied the food and drug safety ministry in 2021 to win approval for a COVID-19 treatment.
- Yong has been criticized for refusing to give up her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly after her ministerial appointment.
- Seong said the government has not made a final decision on the reported U.S. request for South Korea to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz.
- He said possible responses could include technical assistance as well as troop deployment.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, gives a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, July 10. Yonhap
A presidential official said Thursday that a decision on whether to go ahead with the appointments of the controversial nominees for justice and gender equality minister will be made after their confirmation hearings.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, made the remark during an interview on MBC radio, referring to Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in.
Kim and Yong were tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle late last month. Since then, Kim has come under fire over allegations that he illegally lobbied the food and drug safety ministry in 2021 to win approval for a COVID-19 treatment. Yong has separately drawn flak for refusing to give up her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly following her ministerial appointment.
"We plan to make a decision from the people's standpoint after they have gone through the confirmation process," Seong said. "I think we have to listen to what the nominees have to say within the formal question-and-answer process."
On Kim's lobbying allegations, Seong said it was unlikely the presidential office failed to note the issue in the vetting process as the nominee, a two-term lawmaker, had been subject to a prosecution investigation and received a non-indictment decision.
On Yong's refusal to give up her parliamentary seat, he said it was a question to be answered by the nominee herself during the confirmation hearing.
Seong also reiterated the government's position that no final decision has been made on the United States' reported request for South Korea to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz.
"There are various options when it comes to ways to contribute responsibly to the normalization of the Strait of Hormuz, but no final decision has been made yet on the detailed method," he said, adding the options could include technical assistance, in addition to troop deployment.
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