The People Power Party said of Minister-nominee Yong Hye-in of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's news conference that she issued an arrogant "declaration to finish the race," saying she would hold out to the end rather than voluntarily resign, calling it "a direct challenge to the public and a deplorable deception of the people."
Choi Bo-yoon, the People Power Party's chief spokesperson, said in a commentary on the 10th on Yong's news conference, "She berated the media raising legitimate suspicions as a 'malicious frame' and turned the tables by calling the opposition's natural demand for a personnel vetting 'obstruction,'" and asked, "Saying she would prepare materials for the confirmation hearing while even refusing to come to the office, was the best she could produce a blame-shifting news conference filled with excuses against the opposition and the press?"
Choi, the chief spokesperson, said, "She insisted that the unprecedented 'privileged concurrent post' obstinacy was a 'principle permitted by law,' and even went so far as to offer the shameless sophistry that 'if personal advancement had mattered, I would not have accepted,'" adding, "Drunk on power and trying to monopolize authority out of greed, she even dared to 'read the intent of nominating an opposition lawmaker,' adopting a lecturing attitude toward the people, the sovereigns, which is outrageous."
They went on, "More than seven out of 10 people have already delivered a verdict of dismissal," adding, "Yet her brazen attempt to shift blame to the media and the opposition while saying she 'regrets the confirmation hearing schedule being undecided' is the worst personnel debacle ever."
Choi, the chief spokesperson, said, "Now President Lee Jae-myung must decide. If he shields an unfit nominee who hides behind blaming others and spouts sophistry, that is a clear declaration of war against the people, the sovereigns," adding, "President Lee Jae-myung should immediately acknowledge the personnel debacle and withdraw the nomination of Yong Hye-in right now."
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop also wrote on Facebook, "Yong Hye-in shouted to both politics and the media that are vetting the suspicions directed at her to 'come to their senses.' Is she trying to say to the people who agree with those suspicions, 'You are crazy'? At this point, the 'people as pigs and dogs' theory would seem more honest," adding, "Yong Hye-in's news conference stuck to emotional manipulation mired in self-pity, blaming others and deceiving the people, instead of a candid explanation and resignation. It rubs salt in the people's wounds and is a declaration of war to start a full-on fight with the people."
Commissioners on the People Power Party's Committee on Gender Equality and Family also held a news conference at the National Assembly that day and criticized nominee Yong and the Democratic Party. The People Power Party gender equality committee commissioners said, "The People Power Party demanded 28 witnesses, including Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Presidential Senior Secretary to the President's spouse Kim Hyun-ji, Korea Boardgames CEO Kim Gil-oh, Basic Income Party Supreme Council member Park Ki-hong, and former Labor Party women's committee chair Kim Yun-young," adding, "The Democratic Party rejected the adoption of key witnesses except for former acting leader of the Basic Income Party Moon Mi-jung."