[Edaily Reporter Kim Sung-kon ] Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has chosen to “charge head-on.” She has turned a deaf ear to calls for her resignation and has begun a full-throttle push against the tide. No one saw this coming. On the morning of the 10th, when it became known that Nominee Yong Hye-in had not reported to the confirmation hearing preparation office in Seodaemun, Seoul, and news of an emergency press conference at the National Assembly’s Communication Center that afternoon broke, everyone expected a press conference announcing her “voluntary resignation.” The outcome was the exact opposite.

Yong’s press conference can be summed up in one phrase: “I will not resign.” Many who watched were so stunned they nearly fell over, remarking, “She’s got some serious mental toughness.” The Blue House and political parties across the spectrum are busy weighing the political pros and cons. The one with the biggest headache is President Lee Jae-myung. The Democratic Party finds itself caught between a rock and a hard place. The People Power Party and the Reform New Party were practically cheering (?) for her appointment. The Cho Kuk Innovation Party continues to maintain a wait-and-see stance.

◇ Yoon Hye-in’s Press Conference Was Not Coordinated with the Blue House… What Will President Lee Choose?

Was nominee Yong Hye-in’s press conference the result of coordination with the Blue House? If so, the possibility of President Lee withdrawing the nomination before the National Assembly’s confirmation hearing is zero. The problem is that Nominee Yong’s press conference was a unilateral action taken without coordination with the Blue House. The Blue House is, quite literally, in a “cauldron of chaos.” Even amid worsening public opinion, the likelihood of Nominee Yong voluntarily stepping down is “zero.” President Lee must choose to withdraw the nomination, just as he did in the case of Lee Hye-hoon, the first nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget. It is a painful but necessary measure symbolizing the president’s failure in personnel appointments. Depending on the circumstances, it may even be inevitable to hold the Blue House’s personnel vetting team accountable.

◇Deteriorating Public Opinion vs. the President’s Intentions… The Democratic Party’s Hesitation and Hesitation

The Democratic Party is truly caught between a rock and a hard place. As the ruling party, it cannot help but respect the intentions of President Lee, who holds the authority to appoint officials. Above all, it cannot even take rash action until a clear signal is received from the Blue House. This is why the party failed to issue a single official statement regarding Nominee Yong’s press conference yesterday. Of course, leading Democratic Party politicians had previously argued that Nominee Yong’s appointment as minister should be contingent on his resignation from his proportional representation seat in the National Assembly. However, they were left in a difficult position after Nominee Yong flatly rejected the possibility of resigning from his parliamentary seat. The Democratic Party now faces a critical decision. Given that it must absolutely defend Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, the likelihood that Nominee Yong will be made a scapegoat has increased.

◇Broad Opposition Bloc: Cheering on the Surface, Keeping a Straight Face… Both Withdrawal and Forced Appointment Are Fine

The broader opposition is keeping a straight face. Outwardly, they are angry, but inwardly, they are grinning from ear to ear. This stems from their confidence that Nominee Yong’s defiance of public sentiment could lead to a further drop in the president’s approval rating. The People Power Party urged President Lee to withdraw the nomination, calling it “a brazen insistence on her appointment while turning a deaf ear to the public’s rebuke.” The Reform New Party sarcastically stated, “President Lee Jae-myung, please be sure to appoint nominee Yong Hye-in,” while also issuing a warning: “The public will remember this for a long time.”