Jang Je-won: "What is the Same Between Jung Ho-young's Allegations and the Cho Kuk Incident... Speak with Evidence"

Democratic Party "Yoon, Jo Guk's house was searched before the hearing even started"
"Where did the fairness standard go that even seized family diaries?"

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to the President-elect, is answering questions from reporters as he leaves the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 14th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to President-elect Jang Je-won, on the 18th claimed that the 'special admission privilege allegations' concerning Jeong Ho-young, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, are "not the same as the Cho Kuk incident." He strongly opposed the criticism that the controversy surrounding nominee Jeong is similar to the scandal involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family.

On the morning of the same day, Jang met with reporters on his way to work and said, "What is the same between (the Cho Kuk incident and the allegations against nominee Jeong)? If there is anything similar to Cho Kuk, try to tell me," and asked back, "Did they fabricate or forge anything?"

He continued, "People keep saying Cho Kuk, Cho Kuk, but if there is really something similar between the Cho Kuk issue and this, try to explain. On what basis are you making these claims?" he criticized.

He also said, "No matter where a child is admitted or where they try to get a job, you can't discriminate against them unfairly, can you?" and urged, "Try to put yourself in their shoes."

He raised his voice, saying, "If there is a possibility of (wrongdoing), is it really right to say 'Our son, don't come to Kyungpook National University, don't even come near the university'? Should it really be like that?"

Earlier, on the 13th, according to the office of Kim Won-i of the Democratic Party of Korea, nominee Jeong's daughter and son were admitted to Kyungpook National University College of Medicine through transfer admissions in 2016 and 2017, respectively, while he was serving as the director (vice president) and president of Kyungpook National University Hospital.

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is arriving at the nominee office set up at the Seoul Northern Regional Headquarters of the National Pension Service in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Both children listed their volunteer activities at Kyungpook National University Hospital before their bachelor's degree transfer on their admission documents. It is known that two professors who gave full marks in the daughter's oral exam had co-authored 35 papers with nominee Jeong until recently, and there are also allegations of preferential treatment in the son's participation in papers.

Nominee Jeong held a press conference on the 17th and refuted the allegations point by point, stating, "There was no improper conduct whatsoever." He emphasized, "The transfer process proceeded with multiple transparent checks and balances," and "It is a fair structure where requests and favors are impossible."

However, the Democratic Party mentioned the allegations of admission corruption involving former Minister Cho Kuk's daughter and urged thorough verification of former Minister Cho as well.

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, criticized nominee Jeong's press conference at a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, saying, "It was a press conference that shifted the burden of proof onto the public, the National Assembly, and the media," and called it "self-justification that deviates from the main point."

She added, "The core of the public's suspicion about nominee Jeong is about who made the rules of the game," and "Before claiming perfection, nominee Jeong should properly understand the exact points of suspicion raised by the public."

Yoon Ho-jung, co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, condemned at the party's emergency meeting on the 18th, saying, "Before the confirmation hearing of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was even held when Yoon was Prosecutor General, simultaneous raids were conducted through current Minister of Justice nominee Han Dong-hoon," and asked, "Where did the cruel and ruthless standard of fairness that even seized a girl's diary disappear to?"

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