People Power Party launches all-out push to oust Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in

The People Power Party has launched an all-out offensive to block the nominations of Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in, demanding that President Lee Jae-myung withdraw both appointments by the weekend.

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk said Kim, the nominee for justice minister, did not even deserve to face a confirmation hearing. In a Facebook post, Jang called on Kim to resign immediately or on Lee to withdraw the nomination. He cited allegations that Kim was involved in lobbying related to a COVID-19 treatment, as well as Kim’s past drunk-driving record, and warned that Kim could become a “nuclear bomb” that brings down the Lee administration.

“

Kim Seung-won does not even have the qualification to reach the confirmation hearing. He should resign immediately, or President Lee Jae-myung should withdraw the nomination.

Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said Kim’s nomination was especially unacceptable because Kim was allegedly placed on a deferred-prosecution decision in a case involving alleged bribes linked to a new COVID-19 drug. Jeong argued that appointing someone connected to such a case to lead the ministry overseeing prosecutions would create a serious conflict of interest.

“

The fact that a person who received deferred prosecution in a bribery-related case becomes the minister of the ministry overseeing prosecutions is itself an enormous conflict of interest.

The party also targeted Yong over her past involvement in the “No Work, Yes Money” movement. Kim Mi-ae, the party’s senior policy deputy, released photographs of Yong from 2017 and 2019 and accused her of advocating payments without work while others labor and pay taxes. Policy chief Lim Yi-ja called both nominees shameless and said public opinion had already judged them.

Lawmaker Park Jeong-hun separately disclosed a whistleblower opinion submitted to the Seoul Western District Court. A consultant who worked for a company linked to a broker seeking clinical-trial approval for Kim alleged that 5 million won was transferred toward Kim’s side, but the payment failed because it exceeded a limit. The consultant argued that the attempted payment showed an intention to provide compensation and should be recognized as evidence of a quid pro quo.

“

There is an apparent circumstance in which Kang transferred 5 million won to Kim Seung-won’s side during the execution of the lobbying, but the payment fell through because it exceeded the limit.