Byeon Chang-heum and Jeon Hae-cheol Face 'Piercing Scrutiny' from Opposition... "Personnel Hearing Virtually Neutralized"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the countermeasure meeting for the confirmation hearings of Cabinet member nominees held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Ahead of the confirmation hearings for Cabinet member nominees scheduled for June 22-24, members of the People Power Party gathered to strategize. Jeon Hae-cheol, the nominee for Minister of the Interior and Safety, and Byeon Chang-heum, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, both considered 'core pro-Moon' figures, are expected to be the main targets. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed concerns about the 'neutralization of the confirmation hearings' while promising rigorous scrutiny.

In his opening remarks at the Cabinet nominee confirmation hearing countermeasures meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th, Floor Leader Joo said, "Even those whose confirmation reports have not been adopted or who have been deemed unqualified are being appointed regardless of the purpose of the confirmation hearings," expressing concern that "under this administration, the confirmation hearings have effectively been neutralized." He added, "The nominees consistently refuse to submit requested documents or explanations and treat the hearing day as just a formality to get through," and urged, "Although the Democratic Party of Korea is complicit in this, I hope thorough verification is conducted on public office nominees on behalf of the people to inform whether they are qualified."

These remarks by Floor Leader Joo were aimed at the confirmation hearings for four ministerial nominees starting on the 22nd. Following Jeon and Kwon Deok-cheol, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, on the 22nd, Byeon is scheduled for the 23rd, and Jeong Young-ae, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, on the 24th. On the morning of the same day, the People Power Party held a party meeting immediately after the countermeasures meeting to discuss strategies for the hearings.

During the hearings, Byeon and Jeon are expected to be the main targets of opposition party lawmakers. In particular, Byeon is classified as part of the 'Kim Soo-hyun line,' referring to the former Blue House policy chief who designed the Moon administration's real estate policies. Recently, allegations of preferential treatment in solar power projects, controversies over hiring acquaintances, and disputes over shifting responsibility related to the 'Guui Station Kim' incident have surfaced. Jeon, known as one of the '3 Cheol' (Jeon Hae-cheol, Lee Ho-cheol, Yang Jeong-cheol), core pro-Moon figures, faces allegations of pardoning high-value donors and controversies over gap investment.

Lee Jong-bae, chairman of the Policy Committee, criticized, "Most of these nominees appear to have been appointed based on loyalty to the administration rather than expertise," adding, "Jeon, a politician, was reappointed as Minister of the Interior and Safety, the key ministry overseeing next year's by-elections, and Byeon, who designed the Moon administration's real estate policies and was dismissed due to policy failures, was nominated for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport."

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