"Every person mentioning New Right has a different definition"
Kim Hyung-seok, Director of the Independence Hall, says "They are completely uninformed"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is responding during the 'National Briefing and Press Conference' at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol said on the 29th, in response to criticisms that New Right figures are being appointed following the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as director of the Independence Hall, "Honestly, I don't really know what the New Right is." Regarding Director Kim, he said, "I personally don't know him, and he was the number one candidate."
At a press conference held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, President Yoon said, "It seems that everyone who mentions the New Right has a different definition of it," adding, "They say it's right-wing, but whether it means a somewhat progressive right-wing or something else, I don't know."
He continued, "At first, I heard it described that way, but recently, the media has been defining the New Right differently from what I have seen, so I don't really know," emphasizing, "Our government's appointments are based on loyalty to the country and the capability to hold the position, these two factors."
He added, "I don't consider whether someone is New Right or not when making appointments."
Regarding the controversy over the Liberation Association's boycott of the August 15 Liberation Day event in protest of Director Kim's appointment and the consideration of additional designation of public law organizations in the independence movement sector as retaliation, President Yoon said, "I don't know much about it, but what reason would there be to retaliate against an organization composed of patriots' bereaved families?"
President Yoon said, "I personally do not know Director Kim at all," and explained, "The committee that recommends the director of the Independence Hall reviews and interviews candidates, then recommends three people to the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, who then proposes one of the three to the president."
He added, "Usually, they rank the candidates first, second, and third, and I have never rejected an appointment of the person ranked number one who was proposed through this personnel process involving the minister and the committee."
President Yoon said, "Since the committee usually conducts thorough verification, including background checks on personal and financial matters and any misconduct, if there are no issues, the appointment proceeds," and stated, "(Director Kim) is not a figure particularly related to our government's stance."
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