Lee In-young "If I meet Kim Jong-un, I will propose dialogue restoration and humanitarian cooperation... Sorry for military exemption of father and son" (Comprehensive)

Minister of Unification Nominee's Parliamentary Hearing
"Won't Hesitate to Send Special Envoy to North Korea... Proposes Dialogue Restoration and Humanitarian Cooperation"
Asked if He Supports Juche Ideology, He Says "No Ideological Verification"
"Apologetic for Military Exemptions for Me and My Son, More Support for Youth"

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, appeared at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, stated that if he were to go to Pyongyang as a special envoy to North Korea, he would immediately propose the restoration of inter-Korean dialogue and humanitarian exchange cooperation to Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. He opposed the accusations of being a 'Juche ideology believer' related to his past background, saying that ideological verification should not exist in a democratic society. Additionally, while explaining various allegations of special favors involving his family, he bowed his head regarding the military exemptions for himself and his son.

◆ Lee In-young: "If I meet Kim Jong-un as a special envoy, I will propose dialogue restoration and humanitarian cooperation"

At the confirmation hearing for the Minister of Unification held at the National Assembly on the 23rd, Lee said, "If I can become a special envoy to North Korea and ease the strained inter-Korean relations, I would not hesitate even a hundred times," adding that if he meets Kim Jong-un, he would first propose the immediate restoration of inter-Korean dialogue and humanitarian exchange cooperation.

Lee made this statement in response to a question from Lee Tae-gyu of the People's Party during the hearing held by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly, asking if he was willing to visit Pyongyang as a special envoy regarding the strained inter-Korean relations.

He said that if he visits Pyongyang and meets Kim Jong-un, "I want to start with a full restoration of dialogue," and "through humanitarian exchange cooperation, we will restore trust and promptly proceed to implement the agreements and promises made between the two Koreas without delay."

Lee also said he would propose to Kim Jong-un a slight concession regarding the North Korean nuclear issue to improve North Korea?U.S. relations. He said, "At this stage, even if North Korea cannot get everything it wants regarding the nuclear issue, if it can get about 70 to 80 out of 100, I want to propose a direction to improve North Korea?U.S. relations."

Regarding inter-Korean relations, Lee emphasized that the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and the development of inter-Korean relations should not be linked, and that inter-Korean relations should be improved and developed independently. He stressed creativity and imagination and advocated expanding cooperation between the two Koreas on humanitarian issues.

In his opening remarks that day, Lee said, "Even if North Korea?U.S. relations falter, inter-Korean relations should continue steadily with their own goals." He added, "With the momentum of inter-Korean relations, North Korea?U.S. relations can also progress, and a virtuous cycle can be realized in practice," and expressed hope that the North would move away from the attitude of straining inter-Korean relations just because North Korea?U.S. dialogue is not progressing."

On the morning of the 23rd, at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Tae Young-ho, a member of the United Future Party, is questioning Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification.

◆ Tae Yong-ho: "Do you believe in Juche ideology?"... Lee In-young: "Ideological verification is unacceptable"

On this day, the United Future Party demanded Lee's 'declaration of renunciation' and fierce clashes occurred between the ruling and opposition parties over ideological verification. The United Future Party questioned whether Lee, who was an activist in the 1980s, was a believer in Juche ideology, while the ruling Democratic Party strongly opposed this as an outdated ideological attack.

The one who initiated the ideological verification was Tae Yong-ho, a United Future Party lawmaker and defector from North Korea. He claimed himself as the 'originator of Juche ideology' and questioned whether Lee believed in Juche ideology.

He introduced the educational content he experienced in North Korea while attending university in Pyongyang in the 1980s.

Tae said, "While attending university in North Korea, I believed in and followed Juche ideology. At that time, North Korea taught that 'there are many Juche ideology believers in South Korea, there is an organization called Jeondaehyup, and every morning they pledge loyalty in front of Kim Il-sung's portrait to liberate South Korea from U.S. imperialist colonial rule.'"

He referred to Lee's tenure as chairman of Jeondaehyup and asked, "I could not find when and where the nominee renounced his ideology. When and where did the nominee abandon Juche ideology? Has he made a public declaration that he is not a believer in Juche ideology?"

In response, Lee said, "I believe there was a misunderstanding in North Korea," and "I have no such memory at all." Lee added, "Renunciation refers to someone who moves from North to South or South to North. Asking about ideological renunciation is inappropriate, even if it is a question from a hearing committee member."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "I feel sorry to the youth for my son and me not serving in the military... I support them more"

Corruption allegations surrounding Lee's family were also raised. Lee explained the reason for his son's military exemption, saying, "He can live a normal life, but it is difficult for him to endure strenuous activities, so the military made that judgment."

He bowed his head and said, "I feel sorry to the young people who serve in active duty for my son and me not serving in the military, and I support them more."

On this day, the opposition continued to question Lee's son's military exemption, and Lee immediately rebutted, showing signs of emotional tension.

United Future Party lawmakers demanded that all medical records supporting the military exemption be submitted, but Lee opposed, saying, "It is unreasonable to demand submission of all personal medical records."

◆ "Kim Yo-jong's request for U.S. Independence Day DVD leaves room for North Korea?U.S. dialogue"

Lee said that Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, expressing her desire to possess a DVD of the U.S. Independence Day event, "leaves room for North Korea?U.S. dialogue and simultaneously implies that she herself is the channel for North Korea?U.S. dialogue."

He said, "There is a possibility that North Korea?U.S. dialogue could resume before the U.S. presidential election," adding, "It depends on how the U.S. withdraws its hostile policy toward North Korea and how much North Korea's calculations on the nuclear issue align with those of the U.S. There could be room for dialogue to resume."

Meanwhile, on the 10th, Kim Yo-jong issued a statement expressing her position on the third North Korea?U.S. summit, unexpectedly saying, "Finally, I want to share my impressions of the U.S. Independence Day event I saw on TV a few days ago," and "If possible, I have received permission from the Chairman Comrade to personally obtain a DVD recording of the Independence Day event."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.