Blue House Says Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in Must Face Confirmation Hearings as Democrats Rally Behind Kim

The Blue House is refusing to withdraw two embattled ministerial nominees before their parliamentary hearings. Kim Seung-won faces allegations involving lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment, while Yong Hye-in is under scrutiny over her concurrent roles as minister and lawmaker.

A Blue House official told reporters in France, where President Lee Jae-myung was on a state visit, that the administration would strengthen its vetting system. But the official also said a confirmation hearing itself provides a public process for examining nominees and that candidates selected through the personnel system should go through it. The message was clear: both nominees would be carried at least until the hearings.

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The confirmation hearing system itself is understood to be a public verification process. Since these nominees were selected through the personnel system, they should go through confirmation hearings.

The decision gives the candidates a chance to address the allegations directly and allows the administration to watch public opinion. It also avoids withdrawing nominees less than 10 days after Lee’s reshuffle, a move that could weaken the government’s political control. The Blue House denied reports that the Democratic Party leadership had asked it to withdraw Yong’s nomination. Party leader Kim Min-seok likewise called reports that he had conveyed such an opinion to Lee at the airport false.

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Saying that I conveyed an opinion that Yong Hye-in was unqualified at the airport is different from the facts. It is false reporting.

The party is especially determined to protect Kim. His departure, amid continuing allegations and criticism of weak Blue House screening, could lead to the entire Aug. 30 reshuffle being labeled a failure. Democrats have even created a team to counter negative claims. Yong, however, is receiving less protection. One senior lawmaker said she might have escaped the crisis had she offered to give up her proportional-representation seat early, but that voluntary resignation after the hearing now appeared most appropriate.

Some governing-party figures expect Yong to follow the path of Lee Hye-hoon, whose nomination was withdrawn after a hearing following criticism over alleged mistreatment of aides and preferential housing applications. Yong’s Basic Income Party has rejected calls for her voluntary resignation and said it would work with her to deliver results at the new ministry. One ruling-party lawmaker said the president could find it difficult to keep both nominees while also struggling to remove both, leaving withdrawal after the hearing as the likely option if Yong does not decide herself.

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If the nominee herself cannot make a decision, wouldn’t withdrawal after the hearing be the only option?