On the 5th, Representative Jin Jong-oh held a press conference revealing claims of harassment, stating that “even during pregnancy, I was bullied” by Lee Hye-hoon, the Minister of Planning and Budget nominee. Lee, a candidate from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), was accused by Jin and Son Ju-ha, a local council member of Seoul’s Jung-gu, of habitual bullying and manipulation, causing Son to experience a miscarriage scare.
Son Ju-ha alleged that despite being pregnant, she faced systematic harassment from Lee. She criticized Lee for allegedly attempting to include party members expelled from the PPP due to misconduct in her electoral campaign and claimed that this led to punitive measures against her and others who raised objections. Son also accused Lee of using her power to subject party members to unjustified ethical scrutiny, resulting in a two-month suspension of party membership for her and her colleagues.
Furthermore, Son denounced a colleague who made misogynistic remarks within the party, citing lack of adequate disciplinary action and implying that political alliances took precedence over accountability.
Son criticized Lee for failing to uphold the principles of female representation in politics, particularly given her role as a three-term female MP and self-proclaimed advocate for women’s political engagement. She urged for transparency and accountability from Lee in addressing these issues publicly to preserve public interest and integrity in her potential ministerial role.