Song Eonseok Denounces Kang Sunwoo's Appointment as a "Declaration of War Against Common Sense"

"Rise of a Super Power-Abusing Regime... Personnel Decisions That Encourage Abuse"
Targeting Lee Administration's Minister Nominees: "Substandard in Ability, Qualifications, Morality, and Character"

The People Power Party strongly protested on July 21, stating that President Lee Jaemyung's decision to withdraw only the nomination of Lee Jinsook as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, while proceeding with the appointment of Kang Sunwoo as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, amounted to a "declaration of war against the common sense of the people."

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, said at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "The Democratic Party and the Lee Jaemyung administration have become a power-abusing super-authoritarian regime."

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on July 21, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairman Song criticized the push to appoint Kang as minister, calling it "a Lee Jaemyung-style personnel decision that encourages abuse of power." He added, "They only pretend to listen to public opinion, pretend to agonize, and pretend to communicate, but in the end, they make a 'pre-determined answer' decision by embracing an aide known for abusing power."

He continued, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which will now be headed by a secondary perpetrator who shamelessly lied at the confirmation hearing?claiming she left leftover food in her car to eat for breakfast or that she never ordered toilet repairs, and even brazenly mentioned legal action?will become not the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, but the 'Ministry of Secondary Harm,' or '2Gabu' instead of 'Yegabu.'"

Song also criticized Ahn Kyubaek, nominee for Minister of National Defense, and Kwon Oeul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, calling them "unqualified candidates who do not align with the basic philosophy and platform of their respective ministries." Regarding Ahn, Song pointed out, "Someone who wants to become Minister of National Defense cannot even submit a military service certificate. If his appointment is pushed through, suspicions about his time in the military detention center will follow him throughout his tenure." Targeting Kwon, he remarked, "He absurdly claimed to have expertise in veterans affairs just because a taxi driver he met in his region turned out to be a descendant of an independence activist."

Chairman Song stated, "Nominating candidates whose abilities, qualifications, morality, and character are all below standard solely based on loyalty and reward is an admission that the personnel verification system has collapsed?this is the first personnel disaster. Furthermore, appointing a candidate who has provoked public outrage through abuse of power and false explanations without any clarification is the second personnel disaster, acknowledging this administration as an arrogant and self-righteous regime that refuses to communicate."

He added, "It is deeply regrettable that, despite there being more than one unqualified candidate, the administration insists on appointing Kang in particular, ignoring public opinion that she should not be appointed. This is a stubborn personnel decision." Kim Jungjae, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also criticized, "With the forced appointment of Kang, the minister known for abuse of power, the Lee Jaemyung administration's blatant and bizarre personnel practices are completely out of step with public expectations and common sense. Even now, I urge the administration to return to the standards and common sense of the people."

Kim further raised his voice regarding President Lee's appointment of Kim Euigyeom as head of the Saemangeum Development Authority, saying, "Are you planning to turn the Saemangeum Development Authority into the Saemangeum Speculation Authority? No matter how much an appointment is made as a reward, the minimum level of expertise and relevance to the job is a matter of common sense for the people."