Workplace Rights Group Opposes Kang Sunwoo's Appointment over 'Aide Power Abuse Allegations'... Says She Cannot Protect the Vulnerable

"Structure Forcing Silence, National Assembly Must Investigate"
Disclosure of Text Messages Undermines Credibility of Explanation

Workplace rights group Workplace Gapjil 119 has expressed strong opposition to the appointment of Kang Sunwoo as the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family. The group argued that it is inappropriate to appoint her while allegations of power abuse against her aides remain unresolved.

Kang Sunwoo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has been embroiled in allegations of power abuse against her aides.

In a statement released on the 11th, Workplace Gapjil 119 said, "We oppose the appointment of a person whose alleged power abuse has not been resolved to the position of Minister of Gender Equality and Family, a role responsible for protecting the rights of the socially vulnerable and advancing the values of gender equality and human rights." The group added, "If the allegations that Kang instructed her aides to perform personal errands are true, this constitutes clear power abuse and a private misuse of public authority," and urged that "the facts must be thoroughly clarified."

On July 9, SBS reported the testimony of a former staff member claiming that Kang instructed her aides to perform household chores such as "collecting trash and repairing toilets." Kang responded by stating, "I have a housekeeper, so there was no need to ask my aides to do housework, and I never asked anyone to repair a toilet." However, on July 10, SBS released additional text message exchanges between Kang and her aides. The messages included a request to "check the home toilet because the water is leaking badly" and a report stating "the repair is complete," fueling controversy over whether Kang's explanation was false.

Workplace Gapjil 119 also announced plans to officially propose to the National Assembly and political parties a "survey on human rights violations and power abuse affecting parliamentary aides." The group pointed out, "Human rights violations against parliamentary aides have existed for a long time," and added, "Due to the unstable employment structure in which contract renewals depend entirely on lawmakers' evaluations, aides are forced to endure unreasonable instructions and excessive overtime while being silenced from raising issues."

It has also been revealed that Kang replaced more than 50 aides over five years during her time as a National Assembly member, sparking ongoing controversy over her internal personnel management practices. In addition to allegations of instructing some aides to perform personal tasks, suspicions have also emerged that she received split political donations from an executive at Ssangbangwool Group.