[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Following the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, claims emerged on the 28th that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also secretly created the Democratic Party’s presidential election pledges. Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, announced that he had secured evidence proving that Ministry of Gender Equality and Family employees secretly drafted the election pledges.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Rep. Ha stated, “According to the obtained materials, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family held a policy pledge meeting with mid-level officials around July,” adding, “At this meeting, specific ‘revisions’ were directly requested. This means that rather than just reviewing ideas, the ministry instructed and reviewed the pledges concretely at the departmental level to report to higher-ups,” raising concerns.
In particular, according to a whistleblower email disclosed by Rep. Ha, “They also urged not to use the term ‘pledge review’ under any circumstances,” and he said, “This is decisive evidence that they were fully aware of the violation of political neutrality by the administration and were silencing employees.” When meeting with reporters, Rep. Ha explained that the whistleblower information was confirmed through an anonymous postal tip.
Rep. Ha argued, “As a public official, reviewing presidential election pledges is an extremely bold act,” and added, “If it were only the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, it could be considered a suspicion, but since the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is also involved, it would be difficult without a directive from the center of power.”
Previously, President Moon Jae-in had criticized Park Jin-gyu, the 1st Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who was instructed to prepare agendas related to the next presidential election, calling it “very inappropriate.”
Regarding this, Rep. Ha stated, “President Moon warned the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for violating political neutrality, but the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family committed the same wrongdoing,” and raised suspicions, saying, “Since the Blue House was behind this, the deputy ministers must have felt free to develop presidential pledges and support the ruling party.”
He also demanded, “President Moon should immediately dismiss the ministers and deputy ministers of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of organized election manipulation.”
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