Hong Nam-ki "Did you look into it?" vs Kim Eun-hye "If you're going to ask questions, let's switch seats"

Hong Nam-ki and Kim Eun-hye Clash Over Real Estate and COVID-19 Vaccines in Government Questioning Session

Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister, is responding during the government questioning session on economic affairs held at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 20th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, and Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, engaged in a heated exchange during the National Assembly's government questioning session on the 20th.

On that day, Rep. Kim said regarding the government's official price determination, "Do you know what percentage of objections are accepted? It's less than 0.2%. Wouldn't the public think this is government tyranny?"

In response, Acting Prime Minister Hong asked Rep. Kim, "Have you looked into why the remaining 99% were not accepted?" Rep. Kim replied, "Are you asking me? (If you want to ask questions) come to this spot. I will come down there," she retorted.

Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, is speaking during the economic sector government questioning held at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Their verbal confrontation continued over the COVID-19 vaccine issue. Rep. Kim asked Acting Prime Minister Hong, "President Moon Jae-in had a video call with the Moderna CEO at the end of last year. The Blue House announced securing a total of 20 million doses starting from the second quarter. Where is that vaccine now?"

Acting Prime Minister Hong responded, "We contracted for 40 million doses of Moderna, but a significant portion cannot be delivered in the first half of the year. They are scheduled to arrive in the second half."

Rep. Kim then pointed out, "Then is the Blue House's announcement of securing 20 million doses from the second quarter a lie?" To which Acting Prime Minister Hong replied, "That figure includes AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and Novavax combined."

When Rep. Kim said, "The Blue House announced securing 20 million doses after the call with the Moderna CEO," Acting Prime Minister Hong said, "So 40 million doses correspond to 20 million people."

Hearing this, Rep. Kim snapped, "Are you teaching me that here? Do you think I came here not knowing that? I told you to come to this spot (the member's podium)."

Rep. Kim also raised her voice, saying, "They say from the second quarter, so why hasn't it arrived yet? Showing the contract would settle this."

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