Chief spokesperson issues statement criticizing the nomination

President Lee speaks with Minister Han during a dialogue with small business owners in March. [Yonhap]
President Lee speaks with Minister Han during a dialogue with small business owners in March. [Yonhap]

The People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae Myung's nomination of Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook as the new prime minister.

Chief spokesperson Choe Bo-yun issued a statement Sunday saying the party had "deep concerns about whether now is truly the right time to put a prime ministerial change front and center," adding that "resolving the ballot shortage crisis must come before nominating a new prime minister."

Choe said the "unprecedented ballot shortage crisis has driven public outrage and suspicion to a peak," and noted that even incumbent Prime Minister Kim Min-seok had publicly acknowledged the gravity of the situation by calling it "a matter that requires a special prosecutor and a parliamentary investigation." She then criticized the government for "attempting to shift the narrative through a personnel reshuffle — replacing the prime minister — while setting aside a thorough investigation and resolution of the crisis," calling it "completely out of step with what the public is demanding."

Spokesperson Ham In-gyeong also said "what the public finds hard to accept is the rationale behind the prime minister's replacement," adding that "in the eyes of the public, the current change looks like nothing more than clearing the way for Prime Minister Kim's political ambitions ahead of his bid to run in the Democratic Party of Korea's leadership election."

Ham said "that is why the public is even angrier," adding that people are asking what the government is prioritizing as it defers accountability, holds no one responsible for the crisis, and ensures the ruling party's political schedule proceeds without a hitch.

Criticism also came from within the Assembly. Former floor leader Song Eon-seog told reporters at the National Assembly on Sunday that President Lee's "stylist tendencies seem to be showing," strongly suggesting the nomination of a woman from Naver was meant to "divert attention" from public anger over the ballot shortage crisis and the ruling party's loss in the Seoul mayoral election.

Five-term lawmaker Yun Sang-hyeon said the symbolism of nominating "an AI expert from an IT company and the country's second female prime minister may catch the eye, but the prime minister's post is not one to be filled with symbolism." He also questioned whether Han's experience — limited to her tenure as a minister — was sufficient to coordinate complex state affairs and lead the Cabinet. He urged President Lee to "stop making surprise appointments aimed at shifting the narrative and instead think carefully about what a responsible appointment that meets the public's expectations truly looks like."


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