Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong, the candidate for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, directly refuted allegations that she profited from trading stocks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "It is not true that I made considerable profits from stock price fluctuations." However, she expressed regret that she failed to address potential conflict of interest regarding her ownership of some related stocks.
Candidate Jeong clarified this during a confirmation hearing held by the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly on the 18th, in response to concerns raised by Representative Seo Myung-ok of the People Power Party. Seo claimed that the candidate might have profited by holding or selling stocks of companies related to COVID-19 through family names. Specifically, she cited companies such as Changhae Ethanol, a sanitizer-related firm, Seegene, a COVID-19 diagnostic kit company, and FENA (formerly known as Lime), a mask manufacturer, among others in the medical device sector.
In response, Candidate Jeong stated, "I sold FENA stocks in 2018, so it is unrelated to the COVID-19 period." Regarding stocks related to medical devices, she claimed, "I have no holdings" and explained, "There may have been confusion due to similar company names." She further emphasized that she had never owned Seegene stocks.
Regarding the Changhae Ethanol stocks she currently holds, she explained, "I have been a long-term investor since 2016, knowing it as an alcohol manufacturing company," and added, "I have not sold a single share and have not realized any capital gains." She noted, "I did not know that the company expanded into hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "If I had known, I would have taken action."
Candidate Jeong apologized for failing to examine the potential conflict of interest issues. She said, "I regret not having scrutinized these conflict of interest issues more carefully," and added, "I will manage my interests diligently."
In response to criticisms from opposition lawmakers regarding insufficient document submissions, she stated, "I have submitted materials since 2016, including dividend records," and added, "I am currently checking with my spouse whether there are additional securities accounts and will submit them as soon as they are confirmed."
She actively clarified allegations of violating the Agricultural Land Act. Candidate Jeong explained, "My husband worked as a public health doctor in the area during the 1980s and has been farming with a friend he got to know, for nearly 30 years," stating, "We have farmed rice paddies and fields, and recently even planted tree saplings, with family members doing their best." She addressed reports from some media that claimed a friend practically handled the farming, saying, "This friend has been like family, and we worked together on important tasks, striving for eco-friendly farming."