'If they knew, they're accomplices; if not, they're incompetent' — PPP launches all-out offensive against Kim Seung-won, Yong Hye-in

Jang Dong-hyeok calls clinical-trial lobbying allegations 'clear bribery'

Park Jeong-hun calls for special prosecutor 'that the Democratic Party loves'

PPP demands withdrawal of Yong Hye-in nomination over hiring, past controversies

Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in arrives Thursday at her confirmation hearing preparation office in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Yonhap]

The People Power Party on Thursday called for the withdrawal of both Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in, framing the controversies surrounding the two candidates as evidence of a failed vetting process at Cheong Wa Dae and ratcheting up its attacks.

The PPP particularly highlighted Kim's alleged role in leading discussions on dropping charges against President Lee Jae Myung, arguing that his nomination was designed as a form of "judicial shield" to resolve the president's legal troubles. The party widened its offensive against the ruling camp by using the confirmation hearings of both nominees as a pressure point, timed to coincide with the opening of the regular National Assembly session.

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, a former judge, told a supreme council meeting Thursday that allegations Kim had lobbied for clinical trials of a new drug amounted to "clear bribery."

Lawmaker Yun Sang-hyeon also weighed in on Facebook, noting that Kim had received a suspended indictment in connection with the allegations. "The fact that no money changed hands does not make the public's suspicions about a quid pro quo disappear," he said.

Lawmaker Lee Yang-su cited prosecutors' findings on the drug in question, saying, "We nearly had people take a drug that made hamsters vomit blood and die. This is the pinnacle of moral numbness." Lawmaker Park Jeong-ha said Kim "should resign as soon as possible and submit to investigation," while Lawmaker Park Jeong-hun called for the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor — "the kind the Democratic Party loves."

Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also joined in on Facebook, writing that arguing Kim was in the clear because no direct payment was proven was "like saying a hitman is fine because he carried out the killing but wasn't caught taking the money directly — that's not even an argument."

The PPP also pressed Kim on his remarks about dropping the charges against President Lee. Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker who chairs the party's special committee to block the dismissal of the president's indictment, took issue with Kim's statement Thursday that the justice minister has "no direct authority" over dropping charges and that he has "no intention at this time" of directing the prosecutor general to do so.

"He said he has no intention 'at this time,'" Joo said, arguing the phrasing suggested Kim planned to act after taking office once criticism died down. "Stop playing word games out of a desire for the minister's post and step down immediately," he added.

Jang also took to Facebook, writing sarcastically: "If it's not about dropping the charges, why on earth would they hand the Justice Ministry to someone so riddled with flaws? Is this the latest entry in the ruling camp's 'ingratitude' series?"

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won speaks to reporters Thursday as he arrives at his confirmation hearing preparation office at Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu. [Yonhap]

The PPP kept up its attacks on Yong as well, calling for her nomination to be withdrawn over her plan to retain her Assembly seat, the hiring of her spouse as a party staffer, and her past activities.

Jang cited the controversies over Yong's plan to keep her legislative seat and her spouse's hiring, calling them "a textbook case of left-wing hypocrisy and left-wing business."

Supreme council member Shin Dong-wook raised allegations that Yong had been active in an unofficial organization within the Labor Party. "The Basic Income Party entered the political mainstream by using the Democratic Party as a host," he said, claiming the Democratic Party had become "a host party for underground organizations."

Lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom quipped that the Basic Income Party turned out to be "the Basic Underground Party," adding: "It's absurd — are they saying they'll build a gender-equal family society by suppressing women and youth?" Supreme council member Kim Jae-won criticized a civic group that Yong had led, citing its 2018 "No Work, Yes Money" campaign and calling it "a social parasite."

Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo directed his fire at President Lee and the Cheong Wa Dae personnel team. "If they nominated her knowing all this, they are accomplices steeped in privilege; if they did not know, they are incompetent and out of touch with the public," Ahn said.

Policy committee chairwoman Lim Yi-ja warned that if the president ignored public sentiment and pushed through the appointments of both nominees, "the people will see this cabinet reshuffle not as a renewal of state affairs but as a shield reshuffle for the president — a self-destructive reshuffle born of arrogance and dogmatism." She added: "That arrogance will be the trigger that hastens an early lame-duck period for the Lee Jae Myung administration."

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