The controversy surrounding Minister of Oceans and Fisheries candidate Yoon Jin-sook is growing as President Park Geun-hye reportedly planned as of Monday to go ahead with her appointment despite the questionable parliamentary confirmation hearing.

According to reports, Cheong Wa Dae plans to appoint Yoon as the fisheries minister sometime after April 15.

During her confirmation hearing last week, Yoon was criticized for failing to answer questions about the role of a Cabinet member and policies related to her potential post. 

Following the hearing, the DUP demanded that she resign, calling her unfit for office, and refused the ruling party’s proposal to adopt a report.

“Not long ago, Kim Byung-kwan, who had critical ethical shortcomings, begged for a chance, and now Yoon, the candidate who lacks crucial abilities, is begging the public for a chance,” DUP spokesman Rep. Jung Sung-ho said, referring to the press release circulated by Yoon.

“Cheong Wa Dae should withdraw the plans to push ahead with appointing Yoon and start looking for a new candidate as soon as possible.”

On Sunday, Yoon asked for a chance to prove herself, saying that she was unable to respond properly at her confirmation hearing because she was unnerved by being the focus of lawmakers’ questions.

“If the opportunity is given, I will listen to the opinions of talented ministry officials and the private sector and put them to practice,” Yoon said in the statement.

The DUP is not alone in opposing Yoon’s appointment. While the Saenuri Party is said to be leaning towards supporting the president’s decision, Rep. Chung Woo-taik spoke out against Yoon.

“I have doubts about what the 3 million people of the marine and fisheries industries who have dreamt of the revival of the fisheries ministry can expect of Yoon, who only repeated that (she) did not know about key issues, and about the basics of her duties,” Chung, a member of the Saenuri Party supreme council, said on Monday.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)