At the Confirmation Hearing: "Candidate Has Consistently Run Since 2008"
"Criticism Over Possible General Election Run After Serving 6 Months as Minister"
Park Min-sik, the inaugural nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, stated that he has had "no time to consider political matters" regarding whether he will run in the 22nd National Assembly general election scheduled for April next year.
Park appeared at the confirmation hearing of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee for the 22DLF and responded to a question from Yoon Young-duk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking if he would run in next year's general election, saying, "During the one year I served as the head of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Office, I woke up around 4 a.m. and thought only about the 'Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' until I went to bed."
Park also cited the upcoming promotion of the current Patriots and Veterans Affairs Office to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the revised Government Organization Act, which will take effect on the 5th of next month, stating, "Even if I devote 100% of my efforts here, it would not be enough. I have not yet considered the political aspect (running in the general election)."
In response, Representative Yoon said, "'Not having thought about it yet' means there is still a possibility of running," and demanded, "If there is even a 1% chance of running, the nominee should refuse the nomination and resign." Representative Yoon also mentioned that even if Park assumes the position of Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, if he intends to run in next year's general election, he would have to resign from his public office 90 days before the election, meaning "he would serve as minister for six months."
He continued, "The nominee has run in every election since the 18th National Assembly election in 2008," adding, "In the last election, he declared his candidacy but then withdrew, and four days later was appointed as head of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Office. Some speculate that he may have been guaranteed the position in advance and then withdrew his candidacy," criticizing the situation.
Regarding discussions about the construction of the 'Rhee Syngman Memorial Hall' by the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Office, Park said that no decisions have been made about whether to proceed, who would lead the project, or the budget, but expressed his personal opinion that the memorial hall should be pursued.
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