National Policy Planning Committee: "Kang Sunwoo Left for Personal Reasons... No Possibility of Return"

Kang Served as Member of Social Affairs Subcommittee 1 Until Nomination as Minister

The National Policy Planning Committee has stated that Kang Sunwoo, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker who voluntarily withdrew as the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, will not be returning to her previous role on the committee.

The annex building in Changseongdong of the Government Seoul Building located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the National Policy Planning Committee is situated. Photo by Yonhap News

On July 24, Cho Seungrae, spokesperson for the committee, responded to reporters' questions at a regular briefing held at the Changseong-dong annex of the Government Complex Seoul regarding the possibility of Kang returning to her position as a planning committee member after being nominated as Minister of Gender Equality and Family. He said, "She resigned due to taking a government post or for personal reasons," and drew a clear line by stating, "Even if other circumstances arise, returning to the National Policy Planning Committee is not possible."

Previously, on June 23, Kang resigned from her position as a member of the Social Affairs Subcommittee 1 of the committee after being nominated as the first Minister of Gender Equality and Family in the early cabinet of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Since then, the committee has continued its activities without filling Kang's vacancy with another member.

Cho added, "Since there is little time left in the committee's term, it is even less likely that Kang will return."

Cho also stated, "We have proposed to the presidential office that the mandatory state support for the issuance of Local Love Gift Certificates be selected as a fast-track task," and added, "We will actively support the prompt implementation of the Local Love Gift Certificate program. If possible, we will work to have it dealt with at the plenary session on August 4."

The Act on the Promotion of the Use of Local Love Gift Certificates, also known as the 'Gift Certificate Act', was previously scrapped due to the exercise of veto power during the Yoon Sukyeol administration.

Regarding the passage of the amendment to the Trucking Transport Business Act, which includes the reintroduction of the Safe Freight Rate System, Cho explained, "The Safe Freight Rate System is a pledge by President Lee Jaemyung," and added, "We have proposed to the government that measures are needed to expand the system, whether during the pilot period or after its implementation."

Regarding the proposed tax reforms, including the corporate tax increase, Cho said, "We recognize the seriousness of the complete collapse of the tax revenue structure during the previous administration," and added, "We are reviewing various approaches on how to recover and normalize the situation."

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