Choi Dong-seok, the new Minister of Personnel Management, referred to the late Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual assault case as a 'planned incident' and evaluated former President Moon Jae-in as 'the source of suffering.' Calls for apologies from within the ruling party are growing. Although he posted a brief apology on social media regarding the advocacy of sexual violence, subsequent problematic statements continued. It was also confirmed that he blamed members of the ruling party for the defeat of then-candidate Lee Jae-myung in the 2022 presidential election, criticizing Chief of Staff Kang Hoon and Chief Political Secretary Woo Sang-ho.
Baek Seung-a, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the 27th and said in her personal opinion, 'Minister Choi should apologize for his past remarks.' She noted, 'The concerns about the Minister of Personnel Management are well understood within the party, and he must sincerely apologize for inappropriate past remarks that do not align with the people's expectations.' She stated, 'Individual lawmakers express their concerns, and the party is aware of those concerns.'
However, regarding his resignation, he noted, 'Since the President has the appointment authority, the presidential office will gather public opinion and make a judgment.' He viewed that President Lee Jae-myung would not retract the appointment. He remarked, 'It appears that the President appointed Minister Choi with the will to implement personnel innovation. I respect the President's appointment authority,' adding, 'Minister Choi will have time to clarify his past remarks.'
Minister Choi wrote on Facebook in July 2020, referring to lawyer Kim Jae-ryun, who represented victims of former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual assault, as a 'person who needs treatment.' He stated, 'They claim to be subjecting victims to secondary harm, but since I don't know the victim's identity at all, who exactly is supposed to be committing secondary harm?' This was five days after the victim's first press conference. He also claimed that the incident itself was 'planned' to defame the former mayor.
In addition, he evaluated the Moon Jae-in administration's 'seven principles for the exclusion of high-ranking officials' as 'very foolish standards' and stated, 'Moon Jae-in is the source of all the suffering our people are experiencing today.' Influential pro-Moon member of the National Assembly Yoon Geon-young said on Facebook on the 22nd, 'I am angry and ashamed.' Within the party, arguments arose such as 'very disappointing and frustrating' (lawmaker Park Joo-min), 'the verification is being done poorly. He should sincerely apologize' (lawmaker Park Ji-won), and 'irresponsible. He should resign himself' (Innovation Party lawmaker Hwang Un-ha).