"Even if Unfair, Must Resign Voluntarily"...Criticism Arises Within People Power Party Over Jeong Ho-young Controversy

Jung Ho-young "No Unfair Acts Regarding Children Issues"

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is arriving at the nominee office set up at the Seoul Northern Regional Headquarters of the National Pension Service in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 18th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid allegations of preferential treatment in medical school transfers for his children, Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is facing calls for voluntary resignation from within the People Power Party on the 18th. This stems from concerns that the value of 'fairness,' emphasized by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, could be undermined.

Kim Yong-tae, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, urged at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Please make a direct decision regarding your position so that the fairness of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is not compromised and many citizens' expectations are not betrayed." This is the first time the party leadership has publicly demanded Jeong's resignation.

Kim noted, "Based on the allegations raised so far and Jeong's explanations, unlike former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, it appears there were no illegal acts," but he pointed out, "The public's view of Jeong is by no means favorable."

He continued, "While Jeong may feel quite wronged given that no illegal acts were found, the very fact that a controversy over conflicts of interest arises for a high-ranking public official candidate, for whom dignity and morality are essential, can cause a sense of relative deprivation among the public who hoped for fairness and may remind them of the Cho Kuk incident they wish to forget."

Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term member of the People Power Party, also appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that day, arguing that Jeong should voluntarily resign.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Jeong, Ha said, "When judging this matter, political judgment rather than legal judgment is important," adding, "Even if it feels unfair, voluntary resignation is the right course."

He added, "Jeong's social capital may have influenced his children's medical school transfers. From the public's perspective, that is unfair," and urged, "Resign voluntarily and instead request a thorough investigation to prove your innocence."

Jung Ho-young, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is clarifying recent allegations related to his children at a press conference held on the 17th at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the Songpa-byeong district of the People Power Party and professor at Gyeongnam National University, also said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, "From Jeong's perspective, he may feel wronged because no clear illegal case has been proven yet," but he criticized, "He should not have sought office if he transferred his daughter and son to Kyungpook National University while serving as hospital director, considering the public's viewpoint."

He added, "Since President-elect Yoon became president based on political assets of fairness and common sense, it could result in him contradicting his own words," and "Therefore, I think the president-elect will politically manage this situation."

Earlier, on the 17th, Jeong actively explained allegations of preferential treatment in the medical school transfers of his two children at Kyungpook National University and allegations of his son's military service evasion.

Jeong is suspected of using 'dad's chance' as his daughter and son transferred to Kyungpook National University Medical School while he was serving as vice director and director of Kyungpook National University Hospital. In particular, his son was classified as fit for active duty in a 2010 physical examination but was later classified as a level 4 social service agent in a re-examination five years later, raising military service evasion suspicions.

Jeong held a press conference at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, that afternoon, stating, "There was no improper act using my position regarding my children, nor was it possible."

He added, "The medical school transfer and military service procedures were conducted through processes that ensured maximum fairness, and there is no reason to doubt fairness in the results revealed by objective data," emphasizing, "I request an objective investigation for verification."