Blue House says Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in must face confirmation hearings

The Blue House said it would send Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in to parliamentary confirmation hearings, despite controversies surrounding both candidates.

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They are candidates nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the personnel committee chair, so they should proceed to confirmation hearings.

A Blue House official made the statement while speaking with reporters in Paris on the 7th local time. Asked whether the presidential office intended to proceed with hearings for the two nominees, the official said they had been nominated through the personnel system under the responsibility of the personnel committee chair.

The official declined to discuss the specific verification process. However, the official said the Blue House would continue strengthening its personnel screening system so that it met public expectations. The official also described confirmation hearings as a process through which the public scrutinizes nominees.

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We will establish and strengthen a personnel verification system so that it does not fall short of public expectations.

The statement reaffirmed the Blue House's position that there would be no withdrawal of the nominations before the confirmation hearings. Kim faces allegations that he sought favors related to clinical trials for a new COVID-19 drug. Yong faces controversy over whether she can simultaneously serve as a minister and a proportional-representation lawmaker.

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We understand that the confirmation hearing itself is a process of public scrutiny of the candidates.