Kang Sunwoo and Lee Jinsook Faced with Growing Calls for Resignation
"President Lee to Make a Decision After Considering Various Factors"
As calls continue for the resignation of Kang Sunwoo, Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee, and Lee Jinsook, Minister of Education nominee, Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, stated, "The President will make a decision after comprehensively considering various factors."
Appearing on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' on the 18th, Woo said, "Since this is an issue that determines a person's fate, I hope people do not treat it like a game. These are not people to be hated or despised. Even if there have been several mistakes, I hope people will view this with a spirit of tolerance."
Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, is briefing on current issues including the luncheon meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong In at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding the confirmation hearings, he said, "It is customary for the ruling party to hope for a smooth passage, while the opposition party tries to scrutinize at least one nominee and force them to withdraw. This time, the process was generally uneventful." He added, "However, there are nominees whose public approval has not improved despite clarifying suspicions raised in advance, so we are closely watching the situation until the very end."
Woo also mentioned the need to improve the confirmation hearing system. He said, "It would be better to conduct confirmation hearings by separating job competence and morality," and pointed out, "Ministerial nominees, whether progressive or conservative, are leaders of the Republic of Korea. They are valuable talents, but issues related to their children or spouses are being excessively scrutinized. When such matters are later proven untrue, it becomes impossible to restore their honor." He continued, "Isn't it too harsh that the current confirmation hearing process completely destroys the lives of nominees and their families?"
He went on to say, "The number of people declining ministerial nominations due to opposition from their families is increasing. This is a national loss. Regardless of political advantage for either party, this is the time to improve the system. Eventually, the opposition will also have a chance to govern, so I believe it is right to take a long-term view and reach an agreement together."
Meanwhile, regarding President Lee Jaemyung's meetings with conservative elders such as former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jongin, Woo said, "This is an effort toward national unity." He added, "This attitude of reflecting what should be reflected is precisely a practical approach. Refusing to even listen to the other side is ideological partisanship. In this respect, the President is continuing a practical approach based on the premise of unity."
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