Democratic Party: "Is it fair that Jeong Ho-young's hospital director child transferred to that university?"

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@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 17th, the Democratic Party of Korea criticized the explanation related to allegations against Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, calling it a "press conference that deviates from the core issues, self-justification, and shifts the burden of proof onto the public, the National Assembly, and the media." The Democratic Party emphasized, "The point where the public raises suspicions is about who created the 'rules of the game' and how certain people applied them."

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said on the same day, "The nominee repeatedly emphasized and claimed during the press conference that there were no 'unfair acts' or 'illegal acts,'" adding, "There is no sense of consideration for the 'standards' by which the public evaluates high-ranking officials who will work in the new government's first cabinet."

Spokesperson Shin stated, "Unfair or illegal acts should naturally not exist for high-ranking officials working in the government," and added, "This is not something the ministerial nominee should be proud of."

He said, "The word 'fairness' is what made former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol the president-elect," and added, "We cannot help but ask whether something is fair just because it is not illegal, unlawful, or unfair, and what fairness means to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol."

Regarding Jeong's claim that "the interview was conducted fairly through transparent checks and balances according to the principles and evaluation criteria," the spokesperson said, "In Kyungpook National University, where over 80% of medical professors are alumni and strict endogamy is entrenched, the public's question is whether it was fair for the hospital director's child to be admitted through transfer."

Additionally, he said that Jeong "used expressions like 'there are parts that the public does not understand well,' showing more eagerness to say what he wants rather than listen," and urged, "Before asserting his 'complete innocence,' he should first make more effort to 'listen' properly to accurately understand the exact points of suspicion and questions raised by the public."

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