두 아들의 병역과 부동산 투기 문제로 격한 논란에 휘말린 김용준 국무총리 지명자가 29일 전격 사퇴했다.
김 지명자는 윤창중 대통령직 인수위 대변인을 통해 이날 사퇴 입장을 공식 표명했다.
윤 대변인은 이날 서울 삼청동 인수위 별관에서 한 기자회견에서 김 지명자가 “저의 부덕의 소치로 국민 여러분께 걱정을 끼쳐드리고, 박근혜 대통령 당선인께도 누를 끼쳐드려 국무총리 후보자직을 사퇴하기로 결심했다”고 밝혔다고 전했다.
또 김 지명자가 인수위원장 직도 사퇴했는지 여부에 대해서는 “대통령 당선인의 결심에 따르기로 했다”고 했고, 기자들이 “당선인이 김 지명자의 사퇴에 어떻게 반응했는가”라고 묻자 “직접 들은 바 없다”고 말했다.
김 지명자를 둘러썬 논란이 후보 지명 초반 두 아들의 병역 문제에 집중됐지만 이번 주 들어 부동산 투기 의혹이 거세게 일어난 것이 사퇴를 앞당긴 결정적 배경이 됐을 것으로 짐작된다.
민주통합당은 29일 두 아들의 병역과 부동산 투 기 문제로 격한 논란에 휘말린 김용준 국무총리 후보자가 전격 사퇴한 데 대해 “현명한 선택”이라고 평가했다.
정성호 대변인은 “박근혜 대통령 당선인은 더 이상의 밀봉인사, 불통인사, 독단인사를 중단해야한다”고 말했다.
그는 “공개적이고 투명한 인사검증 절차를 거쳐 이런 사태가 재발하지 않기를 바란다”고 덧붙였다.(코리아헤럴드)
<관련 영문 기사>
Prime minister-designate steps down
By Lee Joo-hee
Prime Minister-designate Kim Yong-joon withdrew himself from nomination lateTuesday amid spiraling allegations surrounding real estate speculation and the exemption of his sons from military service.
“I have decided to resign as prime minister-nominee as I have caused concerns among the people and brought trouble to President-elect Park Geun-hye due to my lack of discretion,” Kim said in a statement relayed by transition committee spokesman Yoon Chang-jung.
Kim will follow Park’s decision as to whether he should continue as the chairman of her transition team, Yoon said.
In the statement, Kim criticized news outlets for reporting “groundless” allegations and called for a journalism culture where reports are made with respect and grounds concerning the subject matter for confirmation hearings to be conducted pursuant to the law.
Kim relayed his decision to Park in a meeting earlier in the day, Yoon explained.
The transition team said no immediate plans had been made for the alternative nominee for the prime minister’s post.
Kim has been facing allegations of real estate speculation from the 1970s and 1980s by family members, including his two sons, with the properties now reportedly worth billions of won.
Critics also pointed to Kim having joined a law firm soon after his resignation as Constitutional Court chief.
Doubts also surround the exemption from military service of both of Kim’s two sons, who were each deemed unfit to serve due to being underweight and for suffering from gout.
The main opposition Democratic United Party vowed stern evaluation of the prime minister-designate who must undergo a parliamentary hearing for final confirmation.
The president-elect’s first prime-ministerial appointment has often led to a political tug-of-war in the National Assembly between the incoming administration and the opposition.
(jhl@heraldcorp.com)
Prime minister-designate steps down
By Lee Joo-hee
Prime Minister-designate Kim Yong-joon withdrew himself from nomination lateTuesday amid spiraling allegations surrounding real estate speculation and the exemption of his sons from military service.
“I have decided to resign as prime minister-nominee as I have caused concerns among the people and brought trouble to President-elect Park Geun-hye due to my lack of discretion,” Kim said in a statement relayed by transition committee spokesman Yoon Chang-jung.
Kim will follow Park’s decision as to whether he should continue as the chairman of her transition team, Yoon said.
In the statement, Kim criticized news outlets for reporting “groundless” allegations and called for a journalism culture where reports are made with respect and grounds concerning the subject matter for confirmation hearings to be conducted pursuant to the law.
Kim relayed his decision to Park in a meeting earlier in the day, Yoon explained.
The transition team said no immediate plans had been made for the alternative nominee for the prime minister’s post.
Kim has been facing allegations of real estate speculation from the 1970s and 1980s by family members, including his two sons, with the properties now reportedly worth billions of won.
Critics also pointed to Kim having joined a law firm soon after his resignation as Constitutional Court chief.
Doubts also surround the exemption from military service of both of Kim’s two sons, who were each deemed unfit to serve due to being underweight and for suffering from gout.
The main opposition Democratic United Party vowed stern evaluation of the prime minister-designate who must undergo a parliamentary hearing for final confirmation.
The president-elect’s first prime-ministerial appointment has often led to a political tug-of-war in the National Assembly between the incoming administration and the opposition.
(jhl@heraldcorp.com)
