Lee Yong-ho, “Easing the burden on the president is an option” Voices inside the PPP call for Kim Haeng to step down

Kim Haeng, nominee for the minister of gender equality and family, rests her chin in her hand as she listens to a question in her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on October 5. Bak Min-gyu, Senior Reporter

On October 10, People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Lee Yong-ho said that easing the burden on the president could be one option after Kim Haeng, ministerial nominee for gender equality and family, left in the middle of her confirmation hearing five days earlier. Lee was the first PPP lawmaker to publicly call for the nominee to voluntarily step down since the confirmation hearing on October 5. Negative assessments of Kim appear to be spreading as incumbent lawmakers begin to support her withdrawal following other supporters of the PPP, such as former lawmaker Jeon Yeo-ok and attorneys Shin Pyeong and Jun Won-Tchack, who voiced their opposition Monday.

Legislator Lee appeared on SBS radio Tuesday and when the host asked if he was suggesting that Kim Haeng step down, Lee shared his opinion adding that he expected Kim Haeng to make the decision.

Lee said, “Kim is not ignorant to politics, and she has been in the political circle for a while, so I believe she fully understands her current situation,” and expected her to make a decision. At the same time, he expected many people to talk to Kim and said, “Most of all, since I believe she has the ability to make such a judgment, she will probably decide after carefully examining the situation she is currently in.”

One PPP lawmaker spoke with the reporter over the phone Tuesday and said, “If an investigation reveals that the stock parking is true after she is appointed minister, the president will be held accountable,” and explained that a considerable number of PPP lawmakers he talked to were critical of the nominee.

Former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam appeared on YTN radio Tuesday and said, “If she is appointed minister, she won’t be able to avoid the parliamentary inspection. There will also be the questioning in the National Assembly, and what will she do?” He further said, “There hasn’t been a second request for the (confirmation hearing) report yet. I think tomorrow’s election result could have some impact.”

Earlier, PPP supporters suggested the president withdraw his nomination of Kim Haeng. On October 9, Jeon Yeo-ok, a former Saenuri Party (currently the People Power Party) lawmaker, wrote on social media, “How will Kim, who failed to keep her place in the confirmation hearing, secure her ministerial position? She could step down faster than Cho Kuk (former justice minister), who resigned after 35 days,” and argued that the president withdrawing his nomination would truly be handling the problem head on. Attorney Jun Won-tchack, a conservative critic, also appeared on SBS radio on Monday and said, “A conservative newspaper advised Kim Haeng to give up in the editorial,” and added, “So far, President Yoon has not yielded once. I think if he makes a concession this time, the people will accept most of his wishes.” Lawyer Shin Pyeong also questioned Kim’s qualifications when he appeared on KBS radio on October 6.

Before the confirmation hearing, PPP lawmaker Kim Woong appeared on KBS radio on September 26 and said, “At present, all the allegations that the press raised have been revealed to be true,” and argued, “I reviewed things including the recent civil case ruling, and I think it is right that she steps down.”