Seoul: Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo has expressed her intention to step down from consideration for the ministerial position.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang's decision to withdraw comes in the wake of substantial criticism and allegations regarding her past conduct.
Just a day before her announcement, President Lee Jae Myung had requested the National Assembly to expedite the confirmation hearing report on Kang, signaling his readiness to proceed with her appointment despite the Assembly's potential failure to adopt the report. However, Kang's voluntary withdrawal seems to have alleviated some of the political burden on President Lee's shoulders.
The controversy surrounding Kang began during her parliamentary confirmation hearing, where she faced several allegations, including accusations of abuse by former staff members. These allegations included claims that Kang assigned personal errands such as home maintenance tasks and the disposal of food waste to her staff. Additionally, it was reported that she intentionally excluded certain staff members from group communications and spoke poorly of former aides, potentially hindering their future employment opportunities. Kang was also suspected of providing false statements during her confirmation hearing.
Further scrutiny arose from an incident in 2021 when Kang, as a member of the Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, allegedly pressured the ministry to establish a center for victims of sexual violence in her constituency. When informed of the challenges due to a lack of resources, she purportedly retaliated by reducing the budget of an unrelated department within the ministry, a decision that was later reversed following an apology visit by the then-Gender Equality Minister to her office.
The opposition to Kang's nomination was not limited to the public sphere; it extended to the council of all Democratic Party lawmakers' staff, as well as labor and civic groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, both typically supportive of the party. Their resistance was driven by concerns over her ethical conduct and suitability for a role focused on serving minorities and vulnerable populations.
Despite the presidential office's indication of President Lee's determination to appoint Kang, the strong public opinion against her ultimately led to her decision to step down. This marks the second instance of a ministerial nominee failing to pass the test of public opinion under President Lee's administration, following the revocation of Lee Jin-sook's nomination as education minister due to allegations of academic misconduct.
Kang has since apologized for the distress her actions have caused to the public and the Democratic Party, acknowledging the burden her candidacy imposed on the party. The incident has prompted calls for self-reflection and apologies from the party for their handling of the situation.
With Kang's withdrawal, the ministerial position remains vacant, presenting President Lee and the party with the challenge of finding a new nominee who aligns with public expectations and upholds ethical standards.