Jokook: "If Lee Hyehoon Does Not Step Down Voluntarily, President Should Withdraw Her Nomination"

Jokook, leader of the Jokook Innovation Party, stated on January 21 that Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, should voluntarily withdraw from consideration, and if not, the President should withdraw the nomination.

Jokook, leader of the Jokook Innovation Party. Photo by Yonhap News

Appearing on CBS Radio that morning, Jokook said, "Rather than leaving the decision to the President, the nominee should make a swift decision herself," expressing his position.

When asked, "Are you saying that if the nominee does not make a decision, the President should withdraw the nomination?" Jokook answered, "Yes."

However, regarding the confirmation hearing for the nominee, he added, "A confirmation hearing is fundamentally for the people. Of course, it should be held," and continued, "It is a venue for the public to hear the debate and make their own judgment, so it is truly regrettable that it has not taken place."

Addressing Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, who is on the seventh day of a hunger strike, Jokook said, "I think it would be better for him to end the hunger strike, recover his health, and then express his views."

When asked if he had any plans to visit the site of Jang's hunger strike, Jokook declined, saying, "If I visit now, it would seem like a show."

When asked whether he would run in the June 3 local elections or the parliamentary by-elections, Jokook replied, "I will probably announce my candidacy around March," and added, "Regardless of whether it is the local elections or the by-elections, I will definitely run. After the process of identifying and assigning local election candidates is complete, I will follow the instructions of the party's strategic planning team regarding where to run."