Kim Min-seok says he is weighing criticism over Yong Hye-in controversy

Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said he was “deeply thinking” about the concerns and criticism surrounding Yong Hye-in, who has said she would hold the gender equality and family ministerial post while retaining her proportional-representation parliamentary seat.

Speaking on the party’s official YouTube morning program on September 3, Kim said he had heard various views and believed it was necessary to watch how the issue developed. He contrasted the controversy with ordinary confirmation hearings, where previously hidden irregularities often emerge. This case, he said, concerned how to judge facts that were already known without a hearing.

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I am listening to many concerns and criticisms and thinking deeply about them.

Kim said public views and judgments should be respected and considered. His comments came as the controversy over Yong’s proposed dual role continued to draw attention.

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The alliance will happen without conditions, but whether there will be a merger remains completely undecided.

On relations with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Kim said an alliance would happen without conditions, but that a merger remained completely undecided. He also advised the party to be careful with comments that could obstruct the alliance.

His remarks appeared directed at Cho Kuk’s warning that pushing to withdraw criminal charges in President Lee Jae-myung’s cases, without considering that the current Criminal Procedure Act allows withdrawal only until the first trial, could create political and legal difficulties. Kim also addressed conflicting accounts about practical discussions between the two parties, saying Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-kye had misunderstood part of the situation and that he would discuss it with Lee Hae-shik.

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It would be good to be careful about remarks that could hinder the alliance.