"When Arrows Focus on Problematic Candidates, Others Benefit"
Former Secretary General of the National Assembly Yuin Tae is holding a press conference on "Constitutional Amendment and Political Reform Measures and Urging Prompt Agreement between the Ruling and Opposition Parties" at the National Assembly Communication Hall on September 7 last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Former Secretary General of the National Assembly Yuin-tae claimed regarding Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare who is embroiled in allegations of 'children's admission corruption' and 'son's military service corruption,' "If he resigns early, the arrows will then be directed at someone else, so I think they are actually discouraging him from resigning to make him serve as a shield for those arrows."
Former Secretary General Yuin appeared on SBS's 'Joo Young-jin's News Briefing' on the 25th and expressed this view, firmly believing that nominee Jeong would be dismissed.
Regarding nominee Jeong's refusal to resign, Yuin said, "(I think) he probably won't make it in the end, but (nominee Jeong) has to go through the confirmation hearing to take all the arrows so that other candidates can be protected a lot," adding, "If he resigns early, someone else might take those arrows, so I think he is stalling for time."
He further argued, "Originally, when the arrows are concentrated on the candidate with the most problems, others benefit greatly."
Recently, voices within the People Power Party have also called for the voluntary resignation of nominee Jeong, whose child-related allegations have repeatedly surfaced. However, nominee Jeong has expressed his intention to complete the confirmation hearing scheduled for the 3rd of next month.
Meanwhile, former Secretary General Yuin predicted that the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Deok-su, which was disrupted due to 'conflict of interest' allegations after he retired from public office and worked as an advisor at Kim & Chang law firm receiving a large salary, will eventually be approved.
He said, "It doesn't seem like they are refusing to approve, but the hearing was disrupted because key documents were not submitted," adding, "If the issue of what he did at Kim & Chang to receive such a high salary and whether there was a conflict of interest is sufficiently explained, it will pass."
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