Democrats Demand Dismissal of Agriculture Minister Jeong Hwang-geun... Planned Prosecution by Corruption Investigation Office for "Illegal Personnel Intervention"

"Abuse of Authority to Intervene in Appointment of Standing Directors at Affiliated Organizations"

Members of the Democratic Party belonging to the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee demanded the dismissal of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun on the 12th. They pointed out that Minister Jeong illegally intervened in the appointment process of standing directors at affiliated public institutions. They also plan to report Minister Jeong to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Opposition party members of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee issued a statement in the afternoon, saying, "At yesterday's (11th) national audit, Minister Jeong admitted to illegal intervention in the appointment process of standing directors at public institutions," and added, "Such actions exceed the legitimate limits of the minister's authority over heads of affiliated institutions."

According to the statement, Minister Jeong intervened in the appointment process of a standing director at the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, an institution under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, overturning an internal personnel decision and abusing his authority to appoint a former audit officer from the ministry, thereby obstructing the exercise of authority by the agency's president.

At the national audit the previous day, Minister Jeong said, "(A person from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) was heard to be applying for the standing director position at the agency after honorary retirement," and added, "At an executive meeting, I mentioned that since there were already applicants for the standing director position, it was necessary to appoint someone from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This is something a minister can reasonably say."

Opposition members of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee criticized, "President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasizes reforming vested interest cartels and power abuse, but it has been revealed in detail that the minister appointed by the president himself has been committing power abuse and personnel irregularities." They demanded President Yoon to "immediately dismiss Minister Jeong."

They plan to report Minister Jeong to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.