PPP targets Kim Seung-won after Yong's exit: 'A gift set of crimes before chuseok'

The People Power Party has shifted its fire toward Justice Ministry nominee Kim Seung-won after Gender Equality and Family Ministry nominee Yong Hye-in withdrew from consideration.

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, speaking at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly on Monday, said of Yong that "this is the moment to expel the Family Income Party and the Organization Income Party from the National Assembly." He then turned to the next target. "The next in line is nominee Kim Seung-won," he said.

Jang said talk of saving Kim was "nonsensical," citing allegations of lobbying for a new drug approval, fraudulent registration of his children's address, and a prior drunk-driving conviction. "Is the plan to hand the public a gift set of crimes right before chuseok?" he said.

He added that the reason "the president and the Democratic Party are going all-in on saving Private Kim Seung-won is ultimately to get the charges dropped," saying the administration valued "a pardon for Lee Jae-myung over public sentiment and people's livelihoods."

Jang said that even if the charges were dropped by force, "it would only lengthen the prison terms of President Lee Jae-myung and his accomplices," and called for Kim's nomination to be withdrawn immediately.

Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik criticized the ruling party, saying it "must not exploit Yong's resignation as a smokescreen for other nominees." He said the allegations surrounding Kim "read like a crime film — a love triangle, lobbying, even share price manipulation."

Jeong said the very attempt to appoint someone with so many flaws as justice minister was "proof that Cheong Wa Dae is fixated solely on getting the charges dropped," adding that "the more flawed a person is, the more they have no choice but to be loyal to the one who appointed them."

On real estate controversies surrounding Defense Ministry nominee Kang Shin-cheol and Land Ministry nominee Hong Ji-seon, Jeong said the Lee Jae-myung administration's nominees stood "in direct contradiction to the government's own real estate policy." He said the nominees were "forcing violent real estate policies on the entire public while making themselves the only exception — this is not policy, it is privilege."