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

The Blue House said Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in must face National Assembly confirmation hearings for their ministerial nominations.

A Blue House official told reporters in France on Sept. 7 that the administration could not discuss the details of its personnel screening process. The official said the system would be strengthened to ensure it met public expectations.

The official also described confirmation hearings as a public vetting process. Because the nominees had been selected through the government’s personnel system, the official said, they should proceed to hearings.

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It is difficult for the Blue House to speak about the specific personnel screening process, but we will establish and strengthen a personnel screening system so that it does not fall short of public expectations.

Opposition lawmakers have focused on allegations that Kim was involved in lobbying at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and on controversy over Yong’s simultaneous holding of a proportional-representation parliamentary seat. Members of the ruling camp have also publicly voiced concerns about Yong.

The Blue House rejected a report that the Democratic Party leadership had told it Yong was unsuitable for the post. It said the report had not been confirmed and that there was no specific information it could verify.

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The confirmation hearing system itself is understood to be a public vetting process. Since these nominees were designated after going through the personnel system, they must undergo confirmation hearings.