Political Burden Mounts Amid Various Allegations...
Civic and Labor Groups Also Demand Resignations
Pushing Ahead with Appointments Risks Damaging Government Image...
If Both Nominees Withdraw, Administration Faces 'Personnel Failure' Label
As the confirmation hearings for the first cabinet appointments of the Lee Jaemyung administration near their conclusion, President Lee Jaemyung is facing increasing concerns. Since July 14, various allegations surrounding Kang Sunwoo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and Lee Jinsook, the nominee for Minister of Education, have become major topics of public debate, adding to the political burden. Notably, both nominees are facing calls to withdraw from office even from civic and labor organizations that have traditionally supported the ruling bloc, further intensifying the pressure.
On July 18, the Office of the President maintained a somewhat general stance, stating, "We will listen to their explanations and make a decision." However, as the controversy deepened, the office shifted to a more cautious approach, saying, "We are carefully reviewing how convincing their explanations are." Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Office of the President, stated the previous day, "We plan to present a comprehensive report to the President after July 18," and added, "After the comprehensive report, the President is expected to make a decision as the appointing authority." There is a possibility that President Lee may make his final decision as early as this weekend.
Kang, who is currently a sitting lawmaker, has been embroiled in a "power abuse" controversy over allegations that she instructed her aides to handle personal tasks such as disposing of household trash and repairing toilets. The controversy intensified when, after explaining during the hearing that it was a "simple misunderstanding," additional Telegram messages with her aides were released, leading to criticism that she had provided a "false explanation." Lee Jinsook has also suffered a significant blow to her integrity due to allegations of plagiarism in her academic papers, claims that she appropriated her students' research, and issues surrounding her second daughter's illegal early overseas study.
Within political circles, three scenarios are being discussed regarding the current situation. The first scenario is to proceed with the appointments as planned. In this case, President Lee could emphasize his "political decisiveness" and seek to stabilize the initial momentum of his administration. However, this could damage the overall image of the government due to worsening public opinion.
The second scenario is a compromise: withdrawing the nomination of one candidate while appointing the other. If only Kang's nomination is withdrawn and Lee Jinsook is appointed, President Lee could be seen as "respecting public opinion" and demonstrating "political flexibility." However, criticism could intensify against the remaining appointee, potentially escalating the controversy. The same would apply, though to varying degrees, if the situation were reversed.
The final scenario is to withdraw both nominations, a decision akin to "upchammaseok" (泣斬馬謖)?a painful but principled sacrifice. This could be interpreted as President Lee signaling that "moral principles and integrity" are core values of his administration. It would likely garner public sympathy and support and help restore the government's image. However, this would also attach a "personnel failure" label to the administration from the outset, potentially increasing the political burden and narrowing the President's options in future appointments.
President Lee's choice is expected to serve as a barometer for the direction and nature of his administration's governance and leadership. Depending on his decision this weekend, assessments of the formation of the inaugural cabinet and the appointment system are likely to be divided.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is expected to adopt confirmation hearing reports for the nominees for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Members of the confirmation hearing special committee from the People Power Party explained, "As a responsible party that prioritizes national stability and the well-being of the people, we made this broad decision out of a conviction that the economic, trade, and diplomatic control towers must function properly to protect the national interest."
On the same day, the National Assembly held confirmation hearings for Jung Eunkyung, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare; Yoon Hojoong, the nominee for Minister of the Interior and Safety; and Oh Youngjun, the nominee for Constitutional Court Justice. For Jung Eunkyung, controversy arose over the fact that her spouse held shares in companies related to COVID-19 while she was leading the COVID-19 response as head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Regarding Yoon Hojoong, issues were raised about his record of drunk driving and other matters.
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