Opposition's Intense Attack on Presidential Office Over 'Lowering School Entry Age and Plagiarism Allegations'... Yoon Draws Line on Personnel Reshuffle Demands

Opposition Party Leaders and Lawmakers Criticize Yoon Administration
Attention on Yoon's Decision After Returning from Vacation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The opposition party has taken direct action by targeting the Presidential Office. Amid the continuous decline in the president's approval ratings, opposition leaders and lawmakers have criticized the recent controversies surrounding the Presidential Office from multiple angles, including the lowering of the school entry age to 5 years old, the establishment of the Police Bureau, and allegations of plagiarism in First Lady Kim Geon-hee's thesis at Kookmin University.

On the 5th, Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly and stated, "We must decide to part ways with the overall incompetence in state affairs," and urged, "President Yoon Seok-yeol should offer a public apology for the administrative chaos and promptly present a plan to normalize state affairs through a complete personnel overhaul of the Presidential Office and Cabinet." He criticized the recent controversies emerging from the Presidential Office and argued for a comprehensive reform of the office. On the same day, the leadership announced plans to request a state audit regarding suspicions that a company responsible for the interior design of the Kobana Contents exhibition hall, operated by the First Lady, was also involved in some construction work at the presidential residence.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Members of each standing committee and task force (TF) also took action. On the morning of the same day, Assemblyman Ahn Min-seok of the Education Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly with 13 academic organizations to issue a statement condemning the plagiarism allegations against the First Lady's thesis. At the conference, he said, "Kookmin University acknowledged that 'there were cases where the sources of some others' research content or works were not indicated,' yet officially ruled that it did not constitute plagiarism," and directly criticized, "It's like saying stealing someone else's property is not theft." He demanded that Kookmin University disclose the background and detailed procedures of the judgment and immediately revoke the First Lady's doctoral degree. Six Democratic Party lawmakers from the Education Committee previously visited Kookmin University to protest and request the investigation report and plan to revisit on the 8th to meet with the university president.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Assemblyman Kang Deuk-gu of the Education Committee is gathering public opinion to oppose the lowering of the school entry age to 5 years old. He claims that the Yoon administration is pushing forward with a highly controversial educational policy without communicating with the public. A staff member from Kang Deuk-gu's office stated, "More than 400,000 people (as of the afternoon of the 4th) have participated, and the results of the opinion collection, which will be completed by the 8th, will be announced at a press conference," adding, "Given the high level of public criticism, the president should take action."

The opposition also maintained a critical stance toward the Police Bureau, which was launched on the 2nd. Assemblyman Hwang Un-ha, a former police officer, plans to hold a public hearing on the 6th to discuss legislative tasks following the establishment of the Police Bureau. This is to prepare legislative responses such as amendments to the National Assembly Act and the Government Organization Act, as well as judicial responses including constitutional review of administrative rules, impeachment trials, and disputes over authority. Police officials and citizens will attend the event.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Attention is focused on what decision President Yoon will make upon his return from vacation next week. However, it is reported that President Yoon does not intend to carry out a personnel reshuffle. On the previous day, Kang Seung-gyu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, was cautious in response to questions about personnel changes on YTN Radio, saying, "It is not that the national agenda is unclear, but when we clearly present indicators about what was wrong in past administrations or what we must do for future generations in this new era, voices of opposition from those with different perspectives inevitably grow louder."

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