[Summary] "Defaming the Deceased" vs "Don't Make One-Sided Judgments" - Heated Debate Between Ruling and Opposition Parties at Byun Chang-heum's Hearing

Clash Over 'Guui Station Accident Insensitive Remarks' Controversy
"A Head of an Institution Should Not Behave Like This," Fierce Criticism from the Opposition
"Truth Must Be Revealed," "Is This an Issue Raised by the Opposition?" Ruling Party Calls for Caution

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport nominee Byeon Chang-heum briefly closes his eyes and is lost in thought during the confirmation hearing held on the 23rd at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] On the 23rd, during the confirmation hearing for Byeon Changheum, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the ruling and opposition parties clashed strongly over the so-called 'Guui Station accident offensive remarks' controversy involving nominee Byeon.

At the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee that day, People Power Party lawmakers urged nominee Byeon to voluntarily resign through procedural remarks. Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Open Democratic Party defended nominee Byeon, leading to a heated exchange of words between the ruling and opposition parties, with voices raised at times.

Lee Heonseung, the People Power Party secretary of the Land Committee, requested procedural remarks that day and poured criticism on nominee Byeon.

He said, "The more I look into this nominee, the more appalling it seems to the point of questioning if this is right," adding, "He disparaged the deceased as if the Guui Station accident was nothing, and said to tenants of rental housing, 'Why would a poor person be crazy enough to buy a meal?'"

He continued, "Can the head of an institution behave like this? The apology issued after the issue arose was a mere three lines, and he unilaterally visited a political party to offer a face-saving apology," adding, "As the opposition party, we agreed on the confirmation hearing schedule to cooperate, but if the hearing is treated as a mere formality, People Power Party cannot accept the adoption of the hearing report or subsequent legislative schedules."

On the 23rd, the confirmation hearing for Byun Chang-heum, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was held at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee with only the minimum number of attendees present. / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Heeguk, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "Nominee Byeon's words and actions are filled with arrogance, prejudice, and falsehoods," and criticized, "His view of the real estate market is biased, and he seems like a person from another country, completely detached from the common sentiments of ordinary citizens."

He urged, "Nominee Byeon should immediately resign today, and if he lacks the courage to do so, the appointing authority should withdraw his nomination."

On the other hand, the ruling party argued that nominee Byeon should not be unilaterally criticized but should first be given a chance to explain, advocating for a cautious approach.

Jo Eungcheon, the Democratic Party secretary of the Land Committee, said, "This confirmation hearing is the place to clarify what really happened and why such stories came out regarding the reported content, to resolve the public's suspicions," adding, "It is up to the public to judge comprehensively, and it is not right to make a judgment based solely on one-sided reports over several days and pressure him like that."

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Byeon Chang-heum, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited the Justice Party's hunger strike site in front of the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, Seoul, where a hunger strike demanding the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act has been ongoing for 12 days. He apologized for his remarks related to the so-called 'Guui Station Kim' accident. / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Jinae, a lawmaker from the Open Democratic Party, said, "I do not fail to understand the malicious and focused attacks on the nominee," but pointed out, "Is this really an issue that the People Power Party can raise?"

She raised her voice, saying, "What kind of party is the People Power Party? It is a party that produced mafias like Park Deokheum and Jeon Bongmin and holds an average wealth of 4.8 billion won."

People Power Party lawmakers reacted strongly, and eventually, the ruling and opposition lawmakers exchanged loud words and heated arguments.

Meanwhile, nominee Byeon was previously embroiled in controversy over offensive remarks regarding the 2016 incident where Kim, who was repairing a screen door alone on the platform at Guui Station of Seoul Metro, was hit and killed by a train. Byeon had said, "If he (Kim) had just paid a little more attention, it could have been as if nothing happened."

On the previous day (22nd), nominee Byeon visited the Justice Party's hunger strike protest site in front of the National Assembly main building, which was demanding the enactment of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, and apologized for the remarks.

However, Justice Party lawmaker Ryu Hojung, who was at the protest site that day, pointed out on Twitter, "We had informed in advance that we would refuse the visit considering the health condition of the bereaved families, but (nominee Byeon) ignored it," adding, "He brought along aides and had media cameras behind him. We cannot help but doubt his sincerity."

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