"Breakthrough or Endurance?" ... Candidate Jeong Ho-young Denies 'Voluntary Resignation Rumors'

"Will Cooperate with Ministry of Education and Police Investigations Regarding Children's Medical School Transfer and Military Service Allegations"
"Stop Groundless Allegations and Verify Rationally"
People Power Party, "May Voluntarily Resign Before Hearing After Direct Explanation"

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is holding a press conference to clarify allegations related to preferential treatment for his child's medical school transfer admission and military service corruption on the 17th at the auditorium of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, has once again denied various allegations surrounding himself and his two children, dismissing the possibility of a 'voluntary resignation' in the political sphere. With more than ten days remaining until the confirmation hearing scheduled for early next month, attention is focused on whether Jeong will hold out until the hearing.

On the morning of the 22nd, as Jeong arrived at his office in the National Pension Service building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, he responded to reporters' questions about his future, including voluntary resignation, by saying, "I have never talked about that." When asked if the People Power Party is considering Jeong's voluntary resignation, he replied, "I don't know about political matters. I am not a politician and have never belonged to any party in my life."

The day before, he also dismissed calls for resignation, stating, "If the public's standards are based on morality and ethics, there is nothing to be ashamed of." Regarding his son's military service evaluation, he announced the results of a re-examination conducted on the 20th and 21st at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, explaining, "It was confirmed that the results are the same as the reason for the Grade 4 evaluation in April 2015."

On the same day, Jeong said about the various allegations raised so far, "There were no illegal acts, and I am morally and ethically upright," adding, "I am at a loss as to what more I should say." Regarding his son's military service allegations, he emphasized, "I believe it has been sufficiently verified. Please stop baseless allegations," and "I hope for reasonable verification based on accurate facts."

Meanwhile, a police investigation has also begun concerning preferential treatment allegations related to Jeong's children. Previously, on the 18th, five organizations including the Candlelight Action Alliance for Reform and Transition, the Livelihood Economy Research Institute, and the Reform National Movement Headquarters filed a complaint with the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters against Jeong and Park Tae-in, then vice dean of Kyungpook National University Medical School, for obstruction of official duties by abuse of power. On the 21st, the National Police Agency transferred the complaint against Jeong to the Daegu Police Agency, which then handed it over to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit.

Jeong said, "I will cooperate with the investigation," but when asked if he would resign if the investigation proves the allegations true, he denied, saying, "I said the allegations are not true." Regarding the controversy over preferential admission of his children to medical school, he requested, "I ask that the Ministry of Education's investigation begin promptly," adding, "If necessary, I will undergo the investigation myself and cooperate actively."

Meanwhile, regarding Jeong's future, it has been reported that the People Power Party and President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's camp are seriously considering a 'voluntary resignation' around this weekend at the earliest. Given the current public opinion, resignation is almost certain, and since there is nothing to gain from the confirmation hearing, the plan is for Jeong to directly explain the allegations regarding his children's medical school admission and his son's military service preferential treatment, and then step down before the hearing begins.

There is also an indication that they intend to wait and observe until other ministerial nominees pass their confirmation hearings smoothly before making a judgment on Jeong.

On the previous day, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, said in a radio interview about the possibility of Jeong's resignation, "He is probably considering it himself," adding, "He needs to deeply understand what his problem is to voluntarily decide to resign," and "There is a need to give him time."

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