Park Sang-gyu Criticizes Appointment Difficulties for Opposition Figures

Suspicions of a secret deal have been raised regarding the resignation of Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in as a ministerial candidate. Current affairs critic Park Sang-gyu pointed to the possibility of a secret agreement with Chairman Lee Jae-myung's side, such as a guarantee of proportional representation in the next general election and prevention of investigations, as the reason for Rep. Yong Hye-in's quiet withdrawal from the ministerial candidacy. This analysis suggests there was a calculation of practical benefits in response to the offensive from the People Power Party and the media.

Considerable financial benefits were cited as the practical reason why Rep. Yong Hye-in is trying to maintain her parliamentary seat. National treasury support, including the annual salary of a National Assembly member and operating expenses for aides, amounts to approximately 1.1 billion won per year. Critic Park Sang-gyu said, “Over 1.1 billion won starts coming in annually from July. That's 80 million won per month. She also needs to take care of her husband, and her sister is included, and there's also the deputy spokesperson with the peony tattoo on her arm who follows her around. She has an enormous number of people to take care of.” This explanation suggests that Rep. Yong Hye-in's realistic need to support those around her is the background for maintaining her parliamentary seat.

Criticism was raised about the 'opposition' identity of Rep. Yong Hye-in and the Basic Income Party. Critic Park Sang-gyu emphasized that the raison d'être of an opposition party lies in opposing the ruling party, and dismissed Rep. Yong Hye-in's claim of being the first opposition lawmaker to be nominated as a minister since the DJP alliance. He argued that since the Basic Income Party has never once opposed the Lee Jae-myung administration, it is effectively just 'part of the ruling party'.

The likelihood of an investigation into the suspicions related to Rep. Yong Hye-in was assessed as low. Critic Park Sang-gyu said, “Will they investigate? I'd bet money they won't investigate Yong Hye-in. It will just fade away in a few days.” He predicted that public interest would wane around the Chuseok holiday and shift to other issues related to Chairman Lee Jae-myung. This analysis considers the tendency for specific issues in Korean society not to last long.

Candidate Kim Seung-won is suspected of having illegally registered his children at an apartment in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, in 2006 while serving as a judge at the Jeonju District Court. Critic Park Sang-gyu said, “His nine-year-old, six-year-old, and two-year-old sons and daughters. So the eldest son would be in elementary school, around 2nd or 3rd grade before nine, and the second daughter would be six, so pre-school. He sent two first, and then two months later, he illegally registered the two-year-old. It feels like an infiltration, first infiltration into Bundang, second infiltration into Bundang.” He argued for the possibility of a sophisticated plan, citing the children's ages and the timing of the two separate registration reports. This is interpreted as having utilized connections from his time working at the Jeonju District Court.

It was argued that Rep. Kim Seung-won's alleged illegal resident registration constitutes grounds for disqualification as a state minister. Regarding the suspicions of illegal resident registration related to two apartments in the Bundang area, Rep. Kim Seung-won consistently maintained a stance of 'personal privacy' without specific explanation. Critic Park Sang-gyu strongly criticized, saying, “This is not something you can just say was wrong and move on. This alone should prevent any ordinary minister from being appointed.”

Critic Park Sang-gyu quoted, “I burst out laughing when I heard Jin Joong-kwon's characterization of Kim Seung-won as 'adulterous and empty-headed.'” Professor Jin Joong-kwon also strongly criticized Kim Seung-won's moral issues, urging Chairman Lee Jae-myung to 'put a cast on his finger' to refrain from using social media.

It is alleged that the child of the chairman of the Honam Hyangwoohoe in the Suwon area was hired as a staff member in the lawmaker's office. Critic Park Sang-gyu commented, “Now, Kim Seung-won has additionally been accused of hiring the child of the Honam Hyangwoohoe chairman, who was active in his constituency, as a staff member in his office. This kind of accusation has now surfaced.” Kim Seung-won also avoided answering questions about the reason for the hiring, citing 'personal privacy', and comparisons to a past case involving a change of aide in Rep. Kang Sun-woo's office fueled further controversy.

Criticism was raised against Rep. Kim Min-seok's assessment of candidate Kim Seung-won as 'a good appointment the more you look at it.' Critic Park Sang-gyu analyzed, “The reason is only one. Jang Dong-hyuk, chairman of the People Power Party, and several other People Power Party lawmakers said it. Kim Seung-won is the only person who can cancel or dismiss Lee Jae-myung's prosecution.” He suggested that the intention to push through the appointment despite falling approval ratings was to resolve Chairman Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks by canceling or dismissing his prosecution. This raises suspicion of an attempt to use Kim Seung-won's legal background to resolve Chairman Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks.

New suspicions have emerged regarding Minister Ahn Gyu-baek's military record. It is alleged that his actual service period was only 18 months, contrary to his 32-month Navy service record. Current affairs critic Park Sang-gyu pointed out, “This person took the local legislative exam, was exceptionally promoted, became a director in Gyeonggi Province, then vice minister, then minister, rising like a rocket in nine months. But when they asked for his military service records, it said he served 32 months in the Navy, but after receiving the data, it turned out he only served 18 months.” He fueled suspicion by citing the candidate's lack of consent as the reason for refusing to disclose military records.

The Military Manpower Administration replied that the reason for the Grade 4 supplementary service decision was 'cannot be confirmed.' Current affairs critic Park Sang-gyu said, “They requested confirmation from the Military Manpower Administration as to how he received a Grade 4 supplementary service decision, and they replied that the reason for the decision in the military records cannot be confirmed.” He pointed out the unclear specific reasons for military exemption or supplementary service decisions. He raised questions as to why others' military records can be seen, but Ahn Gyu-baek's cannot be confirmed, and political interpretations and suspicions continue.

Various interpretations emerged regarding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's remarks at a court anniversary ceremony. Chief Justice Cho emphasized, 'The rule of law can be realized when the court judges only according to the Constitution and laws, without receiving undue interference or influence from other state agencies, political powers, or litigants.' Critic Park Sang-gyu interpreted this remark as being directed at Chairman Lee Jae-myung, stating, “It means there should be no undue interference or influence from that litigant, Lee Jae-myung. Everything is contained in that statement.” In a situation where the Democratic Party is pressuring for a swift re-recommendation process for Supreme Court justices, the Chief Justice's appointment authority and the Democratic Party's demands are clashing.

Critic Park Sang-gyu explained, “Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae thinks, 'No, we recommended four people, and two were sent, one was appointed, and one was rejected by Lee Jae-myung, so that's the end of it.' He's discarding it. He's saying he won't reuse the Supreme Court Justice Recommendation Committee for re-recommendation.” This shows the Chief Justice's will to define the Recommendation Committee as a one-time body amidst the conflict between the Blue House's demand for a quick re-recommendation and the Supreme Court's stance on adhering to legal procedures.

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae expressed a strong commitment to upholding judicial independence. He stated that he would absolutely not create a system where the power to appoint Supreme Court justices would be subservient to Chairman Lee Jae-myung's will. Critic Park Sang-gyu emphasized, “Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said he could never create such a system where the three branches of government, stipulated in the Constitution, would become subservient to Lee Jae-myung's appointment power if he accepted this.” It was also mentioned that the vacancy of Supreme Court justices could continue until the Chief Justice's term ends in July next year, which is analyzed as an attempt to preemptively block Chairman Lee Jae-myung's exercise of influence. Chief Justice Cho is expressing his commitment to protect judicial independence even at the cost of Supreme Court justice vacancies. This demonstrates his strong conviction to uphold constitutional values while taking a confrontational stance with the Blue House.

A critical view of Chairman Lee Jae-myung's speaking style was presented. Critic Park Sang-gyu pointed out, “If the core is clear, the speech is short. But if the core is vague, the speech is long. Students who don't study well have long answer sheets.” He assessed that Chairman Lee Jae-myung's speaking style, which involves complex logic and enumerates various issues, lacks persuasive power.

It was argued that over 60% of the public who negatively evaluate state affairs cannot all be considered part of the vested interests. Critic Park Sang-gyu strongly criticized, saying, “Are 63% of South Koreans part of the vested interests? The perception itself is wrong.” He pointed out that policies concerning real estate and other livelihood issues are actually causing hardship for ordinary citizens, and he refuted Chairman Lee Jae-myung's logic by quoting Thomas Jefferson: 'When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.'