Operating Committee's Intense Questioning of Yoon Jae-soon over 'Sexual Misconduct Allegations'... "Apologize if the Public Felt Discomfort"

Presidential Office Personnel Dispute Continues
Kim Dae-gi: "There Are Parts That Do Not Meet Expectations"

Park Hong-geun, Chairman of the National Assembly Steering Committee, is presiding over the full meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 29th. On this day, the Steering Committee passed a resolution to establish the Special Committee on Judicial Reform (Sage Special Committee) as a National Assembly special committee to discuss the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong), with the People Power Party absent./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, expressed regret regarding the controversy surrounding personnel at the Presidential Office, including Yoon Jae-soon, Secretary General accused of sexual misconduct allegations, stating that "there were parts that did not meet the expected standards." Yoon, who is at the center of the controversy, also conveyed an apology to the public before responding.

On the 17th, Kim appeared at the National Assembly's Steering Committee plenary session and responded to Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu's question, "Did you properly verify Secretary Yoon, Education Secretary Kwon Seong-yeon, and First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo?" with the above statement.

Regarding Secretary Yoon, who is accused of sexual misconduct, Kim said, "Although it is a personal matter, I understand he received a light warning," and when asked about the Presidential Office's plans for gender-sensitivity training, he replied, "Of course, there is such a plan."

When asked about the personnel principles of the Yoon administration, he stated, "Ability and expertise," adding, "Morality is a basic prerequisite for all public officials."

Secretary Yoon, who attended the meeting that day, said about the controversy surrounding him, "If anyone felt uncomfortable, I believe it is only right that I apologize to the public," and added, "I will apologize first."

In response to People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo's question about whether there were any discrepancies between the facts and the circumstances reported in the articles, he said, "I was never investigated at that time," and "There are some points where the facts are somewhat out of order." However, he added, "If I explain every little detail, it could spark further issues, so I have said that it is appropriate not to provide such explanations."