“Kim Seung-won Won’t Pass the Public Sentiment Test. It Was Over the Moment ‘Oppa’ Came Up”

Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister, may have cleared a legal hurdle but still cannot pass what commentators called the “public sentiment test.” That was the assessment on Dong-A Ilbo’s political livestream, “Contempt of Court.”

The discussion focused on allegations that Kim sought favors connected to a COVID-19 drug. The panel said the decision to give him a deferred prosecution disposition did not settle the separate political and moral questions raised by the case.

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First, he should admit it by saying, ‘I am sorry, everyone. I am sorry for causing concern.’

Kim Cheol-geun, a former secretary-general of the Reform Party, said Kim should first acknowledge the controversy and apologize to the public. “First, he should admit it by saying, ‘I am sorry, everyone. I am sorry for causing concern,’” Kim said.

Kim Cheol-geun then criticized the nominee’s selection by President Lee Jae-myung’s government, saying the controversy had provoked public anger over alleged lobbying involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. He argued that the choice showed disregard for both the opposition and the public.

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It does not fit public sentiment.