Welfare Minister Fills Position After 140 Days... First Schedule 'National Assembly Audit'

Cho Kyu-hong, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 27th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] With President Yoon Seok-yeol approving the appointment of the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has avoided a 'minister-less' national audit.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Minister Cho Kyu-hong will deliver his inaugural speech and attend the national audit on the morning of the 5th. This will be his first official schedule as minister. The inauguration ceremony is expected to be postponed to accommodate Minister Cho's attendance at the audit.

The previously vacant ministerial position was filled after the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee adopted the confirmation report in the afternoon of the previous day and President Yoon approved the appointment. The position had been vacant for about 140 days since May, following the resignations of candidates Jeong Ho-young and Kim Seung-hee amid successive controversies.

This national audit is the first under the new administration and is expected to address current issues such as non-face-to-face medical treatment and vaccine damage compensation. Criticisms regarding recent problems like errors in the next-generation social security information system and embezzlement by employees of the National Health Insurance Service are also anticipated.

Concerns raised during Minister Cho's confirmation hearing about civil servant pension receipts, health insurance-related suspicions, and expertise in the health and welfare sectors may continue to be discussed during the national audit.

The National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee will conduct audits from the 5th to the 6th on the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency; on the 11th for the National Pension Service; on the 12th for health-related subordinate agencies; on the 13th for the National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service; and on the 19th for welfare-related subordinate agencies. A comprehensive audit is scheduled for the 20th.