The Opening of Kim Bu-gyeom's Confirmation Hearing.. Opposition's 'Relentless Offensive' vs Ruling Party's 'All-Out Defense'

Party Dispute Over Privacy Protection
Kim Byung-ju "Closed Hearing Possible"
Jo Su-jin "Public's Right to Know, Morality Verification"
Kim Boo-kyum "Will Work for Youth Generation
Feels Ashamed of Vehicle Seizure"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Geum Bo-ryeong] Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum identified achieving COVID-19 herd immunity and stabilizing the real estate market as key national agenda items going forward. Speaking at the parliamentary confirmation hearing on the 6th, Kim said in his opening remarks, "The remaining year of the Moon Jae-in administration is a critical period to complete national tasks and deliver reform outcomes."

He added, "I will respect the National Assembly and listen carefully to reasonable suggestions to ensure policies for the people are reflected." In addition to herd immunity and real estate, he cited recovery of people’s livelihoods and youth employment as core tasks to accomplish as Prime Minister. He especially emphasized, "I will make special efforts to stabilize the lives of the 2030 generation and expand the social safety net so that under no circumstances will the youth ever give up hope."

During the procedural remarks following his opening statement, a dispute arose between ruling and opposition parties over the scope of closed sessions and privacy protection issues. Kim Byung-joo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, argued that "the Prime Minister holds a crucial position responsible for unification, defense, and foreign policy, so foreign policy will inevitably be exposed during policy verification," and claimed that closed hearings are possible for matters related to state secrets as specified in Article 14, Clause 1 of the Confirmation Hearing Act. However, Cho Soo-jin of the People Power Party countered, "The National Assembly has an obligation to verify the candidate’s qualifications and morality for the public’s right to know," and insisted, "Privacy invasion and morality verification must be distinguished."

Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Regarding Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jae-ho’s criticism that Kim had his vehicle seized 32 times due to unpaid traffic fines and automobile taxes, Kim responded, "I feel ashamed as a public office candidate," explaining, "This happened because I failed to manage properly just before the 1996 foreign exchange crisis when I was politically struggling." Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers focused their attacks on Kim’s past violations, including failing to record actual transaction prices in apartment sales contracts, his third daughter’s admission to a foreign language high school shortly after he proposed legislation to abolish such schools, and his referring to the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s sexual harassment victim as a ‘complainant seeking damage’ last year.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party defended Kim by highlighting his proven capabilities, including serving as Minister of the Interior and Safety under the current administration, positioning him as the right candidate to lead the cabinet. Shin Hyun-young, the Democratic Party’s floor spokesperson, criticized in a morning briefing, "The opposition is wasting national governance energy by attacking a candidate who has already undergone personnel screening once, with an attitude of attacking first and seeing later," and added, "Confirmation hearings should be a place of hope, not political strife." The National Assembly will continue Kim’s confirmation hearings over two days, on the 6th and 7th.

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