South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on September 11 that the recommendations for controversial ministerial candidates Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in were not made by Kim Hyun-ji, the head of the Presidential Secretary's Office. "That is absolutely not the case," she said during a government Q&A session in the National Assembly.
Han explained that there are procedures within the personnel committee and organizations that specialize in verifying recommendations. She emphasized that the process involves regular communication with the Blue House and gathering various information about the candidates before making recommendations.
In response, ruling party lawmaker Koo Ja-geun clarified that the notion of Kim Hyun-ji being a key figure is not a claim made by him or the People Power Party, but rather a statement from former Democratic Party spokesperson Seo Yong-joo. Koo also raised concerns about whether behind-the-scenes influences are undermining the president's authority over personnel decisions, referencing the controversy surrounding lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk's comment about recommending his sister.
However, when Koo asked if she would consider withdrawing the nominations for the two candidates, Han effectively rejected the idea, stating, "There is still time for the confirmation hearings," indicating that the candidates should be given the opportunity to clarify their positions during the hearings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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