Suspicion Arises Everywhere... Responsibility of Yoon's Personnel Screening Team Highlighted

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[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] As allegations surrounding the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's cabinet nominees emerge in various places, the incoming administration's personnel screening team is coming under fire for inadequate verification.

From the early days of the Presidential Transition Committee's launch to the current government's personnel records, it was believed that intensive screening was possible, but criticism is mounting questioning whether the verification was done properly.

Some in the political sphere are also raising concerns that the personnel screening team may have failed to conduct proper verification because the new cabinet members are close associates of President-elect Yoon.

According to the Transition Committee on the 18th, the President-elect's side has reportedly praised the personnel screening team for conducting the most rigorous personnel verification compared to any previous government.

The current personnel screening team includes experts from prosecution, police, and the National Tax Service, such as lawyer Joo Jin-woo, who investigated the Ministry of Environment blacklist at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office while Yoon Seok-yeol was Prosecutor General.

The intention was to minimize the participation of National Assembly aides and others to prevent political influence. Especially, under the 2017 amended Transition Committee Act, the President-elect can request access to personnel records and management systems from central personnel management agencies, allowing the use of government personnel records for the first time in personnel screening.

However, Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare and a 40-year acquaintance of President-elect Yoon, has faced allegations of preferential treatment in his son and daughter's medical school transfer-related thesis participation and interviews, drawing comparisons to a "Cho Kuk scandal season 2." Notably, Jeong reportedly submitted his consent form for personnel screening just one day before his nomination (on the 10th), fueling controversy over "hasty verification."

Other nominees under suspicion of inadequate screening include Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo, who is embroiled in controversy over preferential treatment for former officials; Kim In-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education nominee, who sparked controversy over his affluent family background; and Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice nominee, who faces allegations related to violations of the Lease Protection Act and conflicts of interest.

Voices within the People Power Party are also calling for Jeong's resignation. Kim Yong-tae, a Supreme Council member born in 1990, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that "based on the allegations and explanations so far, unlike former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, there appears to be no illegal activity," but added, "Jeong cannot be free from conflict of interest allegations." Representative Ha Tae-kyung also stated in a radio interview that "in my opinion, the solution is for him (Jeong) to voluntarily resign and instead request a thorough investigation to prove his innocence."

Both Kim and Ha told this publication in phone interviews that "the personnel screening team conducted legal verification but seems to have neglected political verification." Ha emphasized, "Conflict of interest is hard to consider illegal. However, since ministers are political appointees, political verification should also be conducted in the new government."

The President-elect's side and the Transition Committee have maintained their stance to observe the confirmation hearings amid criticism of inadequate screening. Bae Hyun-jin, spokesperson for the President-elect, said at a regular briefing held at the Transition Committee's Tongui-dong office in Seoul, regarding allegations against Jeong, "At yesterday's press conference, Jeong showed his willingness to open everything to the public and undergo re-examination," adding, "If problems arise, he said he would even request an investigation, so it would be good to watch the verification process through the National Assembly hearings."

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo also asked for consideration of the reasons behind his appointment during his commute. Han said, "I was aware of some minor issues during the screening stage," and added, "Whether these issues can be definitively verified again as facts should be confirmed through the confirmation hearings and media scrutiny."

Amid the intensifying allegations, voices within the Transition Committee are expressing concerns that the committee's work might be overshadowed, as was the case during the office relocation to Yongsan. Currently, the Transition Committee plans to finalize the selection and supplementation of national tasks and implementation plans by the 25th.

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