Kang Seonwoo Appointment Proceeds... KCTU Joins PSPD in Demanding Nomination Withdrawal

Kang Seonwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

As President Lee Jaemyung effectively proceeded with the appointment process for Kang Seonwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who has faced allegations of workplace abuse toward her aides, progressive labor and civil society groups such as People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) demanded the withdrawal of her nomination.

On the 21st, PSPD issued a statement asserting, "Pushing ahead with the appointment of Kang will be criticized as 'protecting one’s own' and will undermine public trust in the new administration," and insisted, "The nomination of Kang must be withdrawn." PSPD pointed out, "During her confirmation hearing, Kang fueled distrust in public officials and the government by providing false explanations regarding the allegations of workplace abuse toward her aides," and added, "Abuse of authority for personal gain and lying in the hearing are fatal grounds for disqualification." The statement continued, "Kang also failed to clearly present her policy positions on various gender-related issues such as non-consensual rape and the anti-discrimination law, instead insisting on the need for 'social consensus.' It is difficult to find any reason for Kang Seonwoo to be appointed as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, aside from her status as a sitting lawmaker." PSPD also commented that the withdrawal of Lee Jinsook’s nomination as Minister of Education, who was embroiled in controversy over plagiarism, was "an obvious decision that took into account the 'public’s expectations.'"

On the same day, KCTU also released a statement demanding, "Withdraw the nomination of Kang Seonwoo, who would turn back the clock on gender equality." The statement argued, "Kang lacks both a deep understanding of and commitment to the purpose and role of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. This appointment betrays the expectations of citizens who have fought against the Yoon Sukyeol administration’s attempts to dismantle the ministry and who aspire to a gender-equal society."

KCTU further stated, "Kang Seonwoo is considered lacking in expertise on gender equality issues, policy implementation capability, and communication skills with civil society. Moreover, the allegations of workplace abuse toward her aides and her subsequent false explanations are even more serious problems. For a nominee who is supposed to protect the rights of the socially vulnerable as Minister of Gender Equality and Family to have allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior toward subordinates and attempted to conceal or distort the facts raises serious questions about her qualifications as a public official." The statement continued, "Unverified political appointments can never meet the expectations of the public square. President Lee Jaemyung must sincerely implement the anti-discrimination law he promised and policies to achieve a gender-equal society," and concluded, "Withdraw the nomination of Kang Seonwoo, which betrays the public’s trust and turns back the clock on gender equality."

Previously, on the 19th, the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) also issued a statement demanding the withdrawal of the nominations of Kang Seonwoo and Lee Jinsook. CCEJ stated that, regarding the allegations of workplace abuse by Kang, "Workplace abuse is not only a serious social problem but also raises doubts about her qualifications as a public official, given that she allegedly used her status as a member of the National Assembly for personal gain." The statement continued, "Although she offered explanations at the (July 18) confirmation hearing, she instead tried to shift the blame onto the aides who allegedly provided malicious false information, displaying an inappropriate attitude of evading responsibility." CCEJ added, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is a department that must protect the rights and interests of the socially vulnerable and eliminate discrimination. Kang is unfit to serve as its head."

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