Yoon Calls for 'Cooperation' Amid Rising Tensions Between Ruling and Opposition Figures

Kukim: "Democratic Party Declared Han Dong-hoon Unfit Because He Investigated Them"
Democratic Party: "Han Dong-hoon's Appointment, We Don't Know If There Is Willingness for Bipartisan Cooperation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Ahead of the appointment of Han Dong-hoon as Minister of Justice, the ruling and opposition parties reaffirmed their differences on the 17th. Although President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized "bipartisan cooperation" in his policy speech to the National Assembly the day before, the tension surrounding personnel appointments seems to be continuing.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said in an MBC radio interview that the Democratic Party of Korea "found no issues regarding Han's morality, ability, or expertise" during the parliamentary confirmation hearings held on the 9th and 10th. He added, "According to a certain public opinion poll, evaluations of Han actually improved after the hearings." He emphasized, "Since there were no problems, it was wrong for the Democratic Party to deem him unfit just because investigations were conducted against them, so I believe Han Dong-hoon's appointment should proceed."

Regarding Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, Kwon expressed a cautious stance. He said, "Public opinion is divided, so the decision should be made by observing the trend of public sentiment." On Yoon Jae-soon, the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, who is embroiled in controversy over a poem that appears to glorify sexual harassment, Kwon stated, "We need to hear his position on whether the expressions in the poetry collection align with current standards." He added, "If the public cannot accept it, an apology is naturally required, and a comprehensive judgment is necessary," cautioning against overinterpretation.

The Democratic Party offered a completely opposite evaluation. Song Ki-heon, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, said on the same day on the radio that Han was "unfit to be Minister of Justice," criticizing, "The Minister of Justice must be the foremost upholder of the law, but Han has been found to have violated several current laws and has aspects related to his children that do not align with public sentiment." He also remarked, seemingly mindful of President Yoon's policy speech the day before, "Appointing Han would not only go against public sentiment but also raises doubts about whether there is a genuine willingness for political cooperation and smooth bipartisan negotiations from our perspective."

They also criticized the large number of former prosecutors appointed to the Presidential Office. Song said, "Above all, isn't this turning into a prosecutorial republic?" He sharpened his criticism, saying, "So many prosecutors have entered key government positions to the extent that it’s hard to tell whether this is the Presidential Office or the Prosecutor General’s Office, and President Yoon’s closest aides are entering, with Han Dong-hoon at the center."