On Lee's remark that his term is 'constitutionally limited': 'Means a consecutive term is entirely impossible'

Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly's press hall on Thursday. (Yonhap)
Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly's press hall on Thursday. (Yonhap)

Seong Ki-hong, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for public communication, said Thursday that the presidential office would decide on Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in "based on public sentiment and other factors, after the confirmation hearing process."

Speaking on an MBC radio program that day, Seong made the remark in response to the array of allegations raised against Kim and Yong, saying, "I believe we need to hear the nominees out through the official process of asking and answering questions at the hearings."

Turning first to allegations that Kim had lobbied for approval of a new drug's clinical trial, Seong said, "There was a prosecutors' investigation under the previous administration, and the case was already reported as having ended in a non-indictment, so there is no way this could have been overlooked during the vetting process." On Yong's dual office-holding issue, he said, "This is less a matter for vetting and more something the nominee herself needs to decide," adding, "It is an area where she must make her own judgment and explain her position to the public during the confirmation hearing process after accepting the ministerial post."

Asked whether Cheong Wa Dae had raised the issue of Yong's dual role as a lawmaker at the time of her nomination, Seong said, "In the process of nominating candidates broadly as talented individuals from the Democratic Party and other parties, making 'do this or do that' a precondition for the nomination is a somewhat different matter."

He went on to say, "This is a matter where she should explain herself in a way the public can understand, or make her own judgment, taking into account past precedents, customary practice and the particular circumstances of the party she belongs to."

President Lee Jae Myung said during his state visit to France on Wednesday, "My term is clearly limited under the Constitution." When the host asked repeatedly whether this meant Lee would not pursue constitutional reform for a consecutive term, or simply would not seek one, Seong answered, "That is correct."

"Since a president's term is already limited under the constitutional order, I interpret this as saying that a consecutive term, as some have discussed, is entirely impossible and cannot even be considered," Seong said.

On the United States' request for South Korea to send troops to the Strait of Hormuz, Seong added, "There are various options regarding a responsible way to contribute to normalizing the Strait of Hormuz, but no specific method has been finally decided yet."

Asked by the host what options besides a troop deployment might be under consideration, Seong replied, "If not the troop deployment option, there could also be technical support." He went on to say, "Some may be weighing sending combat or noncombat troops as a form of deployment, but we could also wisely explore other ways to contribute."

Asked about his stance on the ruling party's bill for a special prosecutor to investigate alleged fabricated indictments, Seong said, "The focus should be on the illegality in the indictment process itself. It is not desirable for this to be overly framed as a matter concerning the president, or for the legislation to be seen as being made for that purpose." He added, "If necessary, there will be an opportunity to state our opinion."

Meanwhile, Hong Ik-pyo, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for political affairs, said on a YTN radio program that day regarding Yong, "It is true that a great deal of concern is being conveyed both inside and outside the government, particularly from the ruling party, so we are watching the situation closely."

On Yong's press conference that day, Hong said, "We did not know she was going to hold one either," adding, "We are watching closely to see how the public will take it."

Asked about the recent decline in President Lee's approval rating, Hong said, "Both traditional supporters and moderates are dropping off, but the drop among moderate supporters is mainly due to policy factors." He added, "Among traditional supporters, there seems to be lingering distrust of the president, as conflicts from the party's internal unification process and the party convention have not been resolved."

He went on to say, "We are pursuing prosecutorial reform consistently, and if there are shortcomings, we are willing to revise them sufficiently," adding, "Making the effort to dispel doubts is what politics is about."

Hong also said a setting would be arranged for President Lee to communicate directly on pending issues such as a consecutive term and the withdrawal of the indictment, saying, "I think there will likely be one occasion before the holiday."


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