Presidential Office Requests Democratic Party to Adopt Confirmation Reports for Lee Won-seok and Han Ki-jung

Presidential Office Points Out "Democratic Party's Self-Criticism" for Criticizing Without Cooperating on Government Appointments

Lee Jae-myung, Deputy Spokesperson of the Presidential Office
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 14th, the Presidential Office criticized the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, for not adopting the personnel hearing result reports for nominee Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok and nominee Fair Trade Commission Chairman Han Ki-jung, saying it "risks being seen as indiscriminate obstruction."

Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-myung of the Presidential Office stated at a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, "President Yoon Seok-yeol has just requested the National Assembly to send the personnel hearing result reports for nominee Lee and nominee Han."

Deputy Spokesperson Lee pointed out, "Despite exceeding the deadline stipulated by the Personnel Hearing Act, the Democratic Party opposes the adoption of the result reports," adding, "This is the 10th time since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration that the adoption has not been completed due to the Democratic Party's opposition even after the personnel hearings."

He continued, "The result report reflects the pros and cons of the nominees as they are. If there are no clear disqualifying reasons, there is no reason not to adopt it," and criticized, "Nevertheless, refusing adoption even by violating the legal deadline risks being seen as indiscriminate obstruction."

He further raised his voice, saying, "Criticizing the delay in appointments while not cooperating at all with government personnel appointments could be a form of self-criticism by the Democratic Party."

Additionally, he said, "At a time when the livelihood and economic situation are critical, there should be no harm to the people caused by wasteful political strife," and repeatedly requested, "Please promptly adopt the result reports."

The deadline for resubmitting the personnel hearing result reports is the 15th of this month. Nominees Han and Lee completed their personnel hearings on the 2nd and 5th of this month at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee and Legislation and Judiciary Committee, respectively.

According to the Personnel Hearing Act, if the National Assembly fails to send the result reports even after the resubmission request deadline, the President can proceed with the appointments starting the following day.

A Presidential Office official, speaking to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office briefing room, said regarding the possibility of appointing the two nominees before President Yoon's UK, US, and Canada visits, "I will not comment in advance," but added, "Since the personnel hearings are over and if both ruling and opposition parties have the will, I believe the reports can be adopted today or tomorrow."

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