Official: "Former Rep. Na must submit resignation letter for presidential approval"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 11th, the Presidential Office stated regarding former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who expressed her intention to resign from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee amid friction over a policy centered on 'loan principal forgiveness upon childbirth,' that "the appointing authority (President Yoon) has not made any special remarks."
A key official from the Presidential Office responded this way to reporters in the afternoon when asked whether Na's resignation from the vice chairperson position had been approved.
The official said, "There is nothing to say at this point," adding, "If she submits her resignation letter, it will come to the Presidential Office, and it must be approved by the President to take effect," and further noted, "Confirming whether the resignation has been approved seems meaningless."
Earlier, on the 5th, former lawmaker Na mentioned at a Ministry of Health and Welfare press briefing a so-called 'Hungarian-style' childbirth promotion policy, which includes providing a 40 million won loan upon marriage, converting it to interest-free upon the birth of the first child, and forgiving part or all of the principal upon the birth of the second and third children.
In response, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Ahn Sang-hoon held a briefing the next day, the 6th, drawing a line by stating that the policy "contradicts the government's policy direction," but Vice Chairperson Na continued to post on her Facebook, maintaining her stance by saying, "There is no overcoming low birthrate without money."
On the afternoon of the 8th, a Presidential Office official told reporters, "It is very disappointing, and we can no longer leave this unattended," hinting at the possibility of dismissal.
Subsequently, Na's side claimed she had expressed her intention to resign, but the Presidential Office completely denied this the day before, saying, "We have not heard anything." However, Na refuted this at a press conference held in front of her home in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, the previous night, stating that she had sent a text message to Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, expressing her intention to resign.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
