Lee So-young, nominee for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said she would thoroughly examine any potential conflict of interest linked to her spouse’s employment as a lawyer at Kim & Jang. She made the commitment during a National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th after Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the Rebuilding Korea Party questioned whether the law firm’s work advising large corporations could conflict with the ministry’s responsibility to protect small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. Lee said a family member’s law-firm employment alone does not constitute a conflict, but acknowledged that potential risks could arise and pledged to exercise heightened judgment as a public official. She also said she would consult the ministry’s conflict of interest prevention officer in advance about cases her family should avoid, leaving no room for misunderstanding.