Park Hong-geun "Yoon Must Withdraw Nomination of Song Ok-ryeol Amid Sexual Misconduct Controversy"

"Yoon Nominated Fair Trade Commission Chairman Despite Knowing About Sexual Harassment Remarks"
"Inappropriate Even in Terms of Expertise"
"A Figure Who Has Advocated for Deregulation of Chaebol Policies... Doubts About Ability to Regulate Unfair Trade Practices"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] On the 6th, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol, who nominated Song Ok-ryeol as the candidate for Fair Trade Commission Chairman, saying, "Despite consecutive personnel disasters, instead of apologizing or expressing regret, he once again nominated a candidate with a sexual misconduct controversy as the Fair Trade Commission Chairman," and added, "President Yoon should withdraw the nomination without delay and seek a candidate with skills and abilities based on the values of the Fair Trade Commission."

On the same day, Park, at an emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, said, "Candidate Song, who has a history of sexual misconduct, is a personnel appointment that the public cannot accept."

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

In particular, he strongly criticized, saying, "What is more surprising is that the presidential office knew about Candidate Song's past sexual harassment remarks," and added, "It is shocking that a professor made embarrassing sexual harassment remarks to students he taught and then said there was no problem because he apologized." He continued, "Yoon Jae-soon, the Secretary-General who received disciplinary action for sexual misconduct, is still firmly holding his position as a close aide to the president, so does that mean that such remarks by a judicial research institute classmate of the president are not a problem?"

Park also pointed out that Candidate Song is inappropriate as the Fair Trade Commission Chairman in terms of expertise.

He said, "Candidate Song is a figure who has advocated for deregulation of chaebol policies, criticizing internal transactions within conglomerates," and added, "It is questionable whether such a person can properly regulate abuse of market dominant position and excessive economic concentration by business operators, as stipulated in Article 1 of the Fair Trade Act, and unfair trade practices."

Park said, "Under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, there is a strange phenomenon where people who are hardly suitable for public office are instead appointed to key positions," and criticized, "The candidate himself admitted that this is a reason for disqualification, but the president's refusal to acknowledge it is nothing but stubbornness and arrogance."