Yoon on Jeong Ho-young's 'Dad Chance' Allegation: "There Must Be a Negative Fact"... Intensifying Hypocrisy Controversy

Jung Ho-young: "No unfair acts regarding children... I will undergo verification"
Democratic Party: "What is Yoon's fairness?", "Fairness has become hollow" criticism
Yoon's side: "Calmly observing Jung Ho-young's allegations"

Jeong Ho-young, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is explaining allegations related to his children at a press conference held on the 17th at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Regarding Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, who is embroiled in various suspicions including his children's medical school transfer and military service exemption, President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol stated, "There must be clear facts of wrongdoing," expressing a stance to observe the situation for now. In response, the Democratic Party criticized Jeong as Yoon's 'friend of 40 years,' calling it 'pro-Roh hypocrisy.'

Previously, President-elect Yoon emphasized 'fairness and common sense' as keywords following the 'Cho Kuk incident.' Therefore, there are concerns that if Yoon blindly protects nominee Jeong, it could lead to public discontent.

On the 17th, Jeong actively explained the suspicions regarding the preferential transfer of his two children to Kyungpook National University Medical School and his son's military service evasion allegations. He claimed that the transfers and military evaluations were conducted through fair procedures and volunteered for investigation and verification of the suspicions.

Jeong held a press conference at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "There was no improper act using my position regarding my children, nor was it possible."

He added, "The medical school transfer and military service processes were conducted under procedures ensuring maximum fairness, and there is no reason to doubt fairness in the results revealed by objective data. I request an objective investigation for verification," emphasizing his point.

Jeong is suspected of using 'dad's chance' when his daughter and son transferred to Kyungpook National University Medical School while he was vice president and president of Kyungpook National University Hospital. Controversies also include his daughter receiving a perfect score in a specific exam room during the oral evaluation and preferential involvement of his son in a research paper.

In particular, his son was classified as fit for active duty in a 2010 physical examination but was later classified as a level 4 social service agent in a re-examination five years later, raising suspicions about his military service.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol attends the '2022 Korean Church Easter Joint Worship Service' held at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul on the 17th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, President-elect Yoon's side emphasized that "there must be clear facts of wrongdoing" regarding the controversies surrounding nominee Jeong. Bae Hyun-jin, spokesperson for the president-elect, said at a briefing at the transition office in Tongui-dong, "We will observe whether Jeong can clearly explain if there was any definite crime or wrongdoing and convince the public. Above all, we intend to listen carefully to the people's voices."

However, this has raised concerns reminiscent of the 'Cho Kuk incident.' The suspicions that Jeong's children received preferential treatment in medical school transfers through 'dad's chance' overlap with the case of Cho Min, daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk.

Cho Min was found by the Supreme Court to have submitted false credentials during the admission process, including internships at Seoul National University Public Interest and Human Rights Law Center, Dankook University Medical Science Research Institute, and Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), as well as being listed as first author on a paper and third author on another, collectively known as the 'seven major specs.'

Given this situation, there are concerns that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration could fall into the quagmire of 'hypocrisy' even before its launch, worsening public sentiment. Notably, during his presidential campaign, Yoon described himself as "a symbol of fairness who dismantled Cho Kuk's hypocrisy." Ultimately, if Yoon blindly protects nominee Jeong, who has been under scrutiny for fairness and common sense, criticism is expected to intensify.

Regarding this, spokesperson Bae drew a line, saying, "There are many comparisons with Cho Min, but (Cho Min) was confirmed before the public to have committed clear academic forgery, whereas it is a very important issue whether nominee Jeong's many suspicions amount to comparable illegal acts."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the Democratic Party is criticizing Yoon as 'pro-Roh hypocrisy of a 40-year close friend' and urging him to withdraw nominee Jeong's appointment.

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said at a briefing, "The word 'fairness' probably made Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General, the president-elect. We cannot help but ask whether something is fair if it is not illegal, unlawful, or improper, and what fairness means to President-elect Yoon. Is the fairness of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol different from that of President Yoon Seok-yeol?"

Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Dong-geun also criticized on Facebook, "Nominee Jeong completely denied the 'dad's chance' suspicions regarding his children's transfer to Kyungpook National University Medical School. This is the height of shamelessness," adding, "If it were not a 'friend's chance' as Yoon's 40-year close friend, it would have been difficult to deny everything so outright."

He continued, "Nominee Jeong used a friend's chance, and Yoon showed what 'pro-Roh hypocrisy' is," adding, "Fairness is becoming hollow, and justice is being distorted into favoritism."

Within the People Power Party, voices are also calling for nominee Jeong's voluntary resignation. Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 18th, "He (nominee Jeong) may feel very unfair, but in my opinion, even if he feels unfair, it is right for him to voluntarily resign."

He added, "Nominee Jeong's social assets may have influenced his children's medical school transfers, which is unfair from the public's perspective," and said, "The solution is for him to voluntarily resign and instead request a thorough investigation to prove his innocence. That is the way to restore his honor."

Meanwhile, President-elect Yoon reiterated regarding the suspicions about nominee Jeong's children, "Please judge whether he is a suitable candidate at the hearing that meets the public's standards."

Spokesperson Bae said at a briefing at the transition office press conference in Jongno-gu, Tongui-dong, "President-elect Yoon had no particular remarks regarding the controversies surrounding nominee Jeong," adding, "He is calmly observing the process."

He continued, "Nominee Jeong said at yesterday's press conference that he would open everything about himself to the public and confirm it. He also said that if problems arise, such as the Ministry of Education audit and re-examination of his son's physical examination related to military service, he would even request an investigation himself," adding, "Please wait for the verification process at the National Assembly hearing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.