A presidential official said Thursday that decisions on Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in will be made after their confirmation hearings. Seong Ghi-hong said the government will listen to what the nominees say during the question-and-answer process. He also said no final decision has been made on South Korea’s response to the United States’ reported request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, gives a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, July 10. Yonhap
A presidential official said Thursday that a decision on whether to go ahead with the appointments of the controversial nominees for justice and gender equality minister will be made after their confirmation hearings.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, made the remark during an interview on MBC radio, referring to Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in.
Kim and Yong were tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle late last month. Since then, Kim has come under fire over allegations that he illegally lobbied the food and drug safety ministry in 2021 to win approval for a COVID-19 treatment. Yong has separately drawn flak for refusing to give up her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly following her ministerial appointment.
