With Leadership Changed, Ruling and Opposition Parties Declare 'No Concession on Hearings'

New Leadership Faces Leadership Test from the Start
Kim Gi-hyeon, People Power Party Floor Leader, "Questioning Candidate Qualifications"
Ruling Party's 'Ironclad Defense' to Prevent Power Leakage at End of Term

Ministerial nominee for Science and ICT, Im Hye-sook, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 4th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong, Jeon Jinyoung, Koo Chae-eun] On the 4th, during the confirmation hearings for five ministerial candidates including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a fierce battle of spear and shield. The Democratic Party of Korea entered a 'protection' mode to prevent any candidate from being rejected, while the opposition party launched an offensive immediately after Kim Gi-hyeon assumed the roles of acting party leader and floor leader, without even a 'honeymoon' period.

Kim, who was elected acting party leader on the 30th of last month, stated at the People Power Party’s parliamentary meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "As we proceed with the confirmation hearings for five candidates, I feel that many of them have doubts not only about their qualifications as ministerial candidates but also as public officials," and emphasized, "I ask the lawmakers to thoroughly verify and help the public make a sound judgment." From the perspective of the new floor leader, there seems to be an attempt to gain early momentum, as if all candidates pass the hearings, criticism of being 'powerless' could arise at his first test.

The ruling party’s strategy is to mount an 'ironclad defense.' If even one candidate is rejected in this confirmation hearing, it could accelerate public discontent intertwined with calls for regime judgment. However, there is an analysis that it is realistically difficult for the ruling party to allow the forced appointment of all five candidates. Public opinion that the forced appointment of ministerial-level officials without the adoption of hearing reports has reached the '30th time' could become another adverse factor for the ruling party following the defeat in the by-elections.

The main target of the People Power Party in this confirmation hearing is Im Hye-sook, the candidate for Minister of Science and ICT. At the hearing, Park Seong-joong, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "I was stunned to hear her respond that there was no problem because she took her family to a conference supported by the state and paid the expenses out of her own pocket," and directly criticized, "The Ministry of Science and ICT’s repeated delays in submitting materials can only be seen as covering up the candidate’s flaws." Park Dae-chul, also from the same party, sharpened his criticism, saying, "Public sentiment is at rock bottom, and verification is exhausted, so the National Assembly must take over," and added, "Looking at the ministerial candidates involved in smuggling, theft, and tax evasion, it seems the government has given up; the personnel verification line must be held accountable."

No Hyung-wook, the candidate nominated to succeed Byun Chang-heum, who effectively resigned due to the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) scandal, is also under various suspicions. There is controversy over the so-called 'official residence real estate investment' allegation, claiming that he purchased an apartment in Sejong City through a special supply system for public officials, did not reside there, and later sold it for a capital gain.

Additionally, Park Jun-young, the candidate for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, faced controversy over allegations of his spouse’s large-scale import and sale of ceramics. It was revealed that after finishing his service at the UK embassy, he brought in a large quantity of expensive antique ceramics and sold them without permission. Employment and Labor Minister candidate Ahn Kyung-duk is under scrutiny for being listed on a holiday gift list managed by an executive at E-Mart, and Industry and Trade Minister candidate Moon Seung-wook faces allegations of gift tax evasion.

The Justice Party plans to include candidates Im and Park on their 'death note.' Park Won-seok, Secretary-General of the Justice Party, pointed out in an interview with CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' that morning, "The majority within the party holds the opinion that candidates Im and Park do not meet the public’s expectations."

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