'Park Jun-young Resignation' Result of Cheong Communication: "Considering Public Opinion and National Assembly Views" (Comprehensive)

Cheong requests to complete the hearing procedures for the Prime Minister and remaining ministers... "No gap in judgment between the President and ruling party leader"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] It has been confirmed that there was communication with the Blue House during the process of Park Jun-young, the nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, withdrawing his nomination. The Blue House conveyed its hope that the controversy surrounding the appointments of the Prime Minister and ministers would be resolved starting from Park's withdrawal.

Since Park voluntarily stepped down, the Blue House requested that the National Assembly complete the approval and confirmation report adoption procedures for Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum, Science and ICT Minister nominee Lim Hye-sook, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister nominee Noh Hyung-wook. If the confirmation hearings for nominees Lim and Noh are not completed by the deadline for resubmitting the confirmation reports on the 14th, the Blue House plans to proceed with the appointment process.

A senior Blue House official said to reporters on the 13th, "(Park's withdrawal) was a result of seeking the National Assembly's opinion and making a comprehensive judgment," adding, "We hope the National Assembly confirmation procedures will be promptly completed taking this as an opportunity."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A senior Blue House official explained, "The President, as the appointing authority, carefully considered before nominating the candidate and judged that he was very capable. However, this conclusion was made after comprehensively considering public opinion, the National Assembly, and the ruling party's views." The official also stated that public opinion indicating that at least one nominee's withdrawal was inevitable was conveyed to the President.

The Blue House expressed disagreement with the view that it initially tried to push through the ministerial appointments but then changed direction.

A senior Blue House official emphasized, "I diligently communicated and by around last weekend, I had largely gathered the ruling party's opinions," adding, "there was never a moment when a disagreement between the President and the ruling party leadership was exposed."

The senior official added, "The gap between the public opinion I heard through the Democratic Party leader and floor leader and the President's judgment was almost nonexistent."

Regardless of this incident, the Blue House holds the position that reform of the confirmation hearing system is necessary. A senior Blue House official said, "We hope that open discussions on improving the confirmation hearing system will be held on the premise that it will be applied from the next government onward."