Jang Dong-hyeok: 'It's time for an investigation, not a minister'; Seo Young-gyo says truth about 'targeted probe' will emerge
The ruling and opposition parties offered sharply divergent reactions Saturday after Kim Seung-won withdrew as the nominee for minister of justice. The Democratic Party of Korea said it respected Kim's decision while characterizing the allegations against him as fabricated and politically targeted, and vowed to continue seeking the truth. The People Power Party, by contrast, called for a full investigation into the allegations and demanded an overhaul of the presidential personnel vetting system.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok wrote on Facebook that Kim had not so much resigned as been forced out. "Kim Seung-won, the nominee for minister of justice, has ultimately stepped down," Jang wrote. "Call it a resignation if you like — he was pushed out."
Jang cited President Lee Jae Myung's press conference on Friday and the Democratic Party's adoption of a confirmation hearing report as evidence that the situation had reached a point where Kim had to be cut loose. "Even on his way out, he only blamed others and blamed prosecutors," Jang added. "The time for a minister is over. The time for an investigation has begun."
People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said Kim's departure was long overdue. "Kim Seung-won, who led the charge to drop the indictment against President Lee Jae Myung, has finally stepped down — but it is a case of better late than never," Jeong said. He added that the allegations of Kim's involvement in share price manipulation must continue to be investigated by the relevant authorities regardless of his withdrawal.
Senior PPP spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said in a statement that "resignation is not an acquittal" and urged investigators to reopen their inquiry into the allegations surrounding Kim. He also called on the presidential office to conduct a sweeping review of its personnel vetting process, asking why "the verification system has collapsed so completely."
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who had repeatedly raised allegations against Kim, said the public had prevailed. "Lee Jae Myung's Democratic Party defended him to the last, calling the 'oppa poison lobby' appointment better the more you looked at it — but the people won," Han said. He added that he would press on "looking only to the people."
Within the Democratic Party, members said they respected Kim's decision while calling for the truth behind the allegations to be established.
Seo Young-gyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said Kim had withdrawn after careful deliberation for the sake of the Lee administration's success and policy stability. "It is regrettable, but I respect that decision," Seo said.
Seo said the truth about what she described as a fabricated and politically targeted investigation of Kim would come to light. "Prosecutorial reform to expose the truth behind the fabricated investigations and indictments by Yoon Suk Yeol's political prosecutors will continue," she said.
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won called Kim's withdrawal "a model of self-sacrifice" made to ease the burden on President Lee. He urged Kim to return to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, saying, "Let us together expose the crimes of lawmaker Han Dong-hoon before the people."
Kim Eui-gyeom, who leads the Democratic Party's side on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also said he respected the nominee's decision. "As the party's lead negotiator on the committee, I will pursue to the end the truth about the illegal leaking of investigative records and the targeted probe," he said.
Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil called the withdrawal "a decision that heeds public sentiment," but added that reading Kim's resignation statement left him with a heavy heart.
Song went on to say that Han had spread false information and obtained materials illegally while raising allegations against Kim. "The cases filed over the spreading of false information through illegal document leaks, defamation and other offenses must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted," Song said.
Earlier Saturday morning, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced his withdrawal. "I take it gravely to heart that I have fallen short of the public's expectations, and I will reflect deeply on my own shortcomings," he said.
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