Disappearance of '21st Confirmation Hearing'... Time Extended Until Chuseok

The confirmation hearing schedule has been significantly accelerated following Yong Hye-in's voluntary withdrawal from the position of Minister for Gender Equality and Family.

According to political circles on the 15th, Yong voluntarily withdrew from the position of minister candidate on the 13th. This came 14 days after her nomination on the 30th of last month.

The presidential office stated, "The candidate has made her own decision to reduce the burden on state affairs and people's livelihoods," and "we respect the candidate's decision."

Analyses suggest that a press conference held on the 10th served as a turning point in Yong's withdrawal.

At the time, Yong held a press conference at the National Assembly to refute various allegations surrounding her and reconfirm her intention to serve concurrently as both a proportional representation lawmaker and minister. However, this press conference proceeded without prior consultation with the presidential office.

The presidential office drew a clear line the following day, stating, "Minister candidate Yong's press conference was a matter unrelated to the President's schedule, and there was no separate consultation with us."

The atmosphere within the ruling party reportedly deteriorated sharply before and after the press conference. The analysis suggests that the candidate's independent response to sensitive issues without coordination with the party and the presidential office became a burden, as a minister must work with the President in state affairs as a cabinet member.

A Democratic Party leadership official said, "The press conference on the 10th became like pouring fuel on fire," noting that lawmakers who had previously maintained a position to observe her clarification until the hearing switched their stance.

Ultimately, Democratic Party Chairman Kim Min-seok stepped forward directly. Chairman Kim recommended voluntary withdrawal to Yong after comprehensively considering public opinion inside and outside the party, with Democratic Party Chairman's Secretary Kim Tae-seon conveying this on the 12th. A Democratic Party official explained, "While the issue of proportional representation concurrent service may not be a legal violation, there were aspects that did not fully align with the public's expectations and sentiment."

With Yong's withdrawal, the ruling and opposition parties' fight over the confirmation hearing schedule regarding public sentiment during the Chuseok holiday meal appears to have lost its intensity.

Initially, the Democratic Party demanded the hearing for Yong be held on the 18th, while the People Power Party insisted on holding it on the 21st, one day before the 22nd deadline for personnel confirmation hearings. Some analysts noted that the People Power Party was positioning itself to keep the verification period as long as possible to sustain negative public opinion about Yong.

However, with Yong's withdrawal, the ministerial confirmation hearings following the August 30 cabinet reshuffle are concentrated on the 15th and 16th. Following the hearings on the 15th for Kim Seung-won (Minister of Justice), Lee Hyung-il (Deputy Prime Minister for Fiscal and Economic Affairs), and Lee So-young (Minister of SMEs and Startups), hearings will be held on the 16th for Hong Ji-seon (Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) and Kang Shin-chul (Minister of National Defense).

More than a week remains until the 24th, when the Chuseok holiday begins. If Yong's hearing had been held on the originally scheduled 21st, subsequent disputes could have extended directly into the Chuseok holiday, but now the ruling party has gained time to settle the personnel controversy and shift to other agendas such as people's livelihoods, economy, and diplomacy.

The opposition party's firepower is concentrating on Kim Seung-won. The People Power Party hinted at additional removals immediately after Yong's withdrawal, saying "next is Kim Seung-won," while the Democratic Party is building defensive lines by protecting Kim.

Ultimately, the decisive moment of the personnel confirmation hearing that could extend through Chuseok has been compressed to the 15th hearing of Kim. For the People Power Party, suspicions and controversies raised that day must be sustained through Chuseok, while the Democratic Party has gained time to quickly move beyond the confirmation hearing situation and shift to other agendas.

전시언 취재편집부문 대표 yourside@suwonilbo.kr