Minju: "Lee Won-seok and Han Ki-jung Cannot Be Deemed Qualified at All"... Possibility of Yoon Forcing Appointment (Comprehensive)

與 "Opposition's Obstruction"
野 "Appointment Will Be Forced Anyway"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] President Yoon Suk-yeol requested the National Assembly to send the personnel hearing progress reports for nominee Lee Won-seok for Prosecutor General and nominee Han Ki-jung for Fair Trade Commission Chairman by the 15th, but the National Assembly is engaged in a tug-of-war over whether to adopt the progress reports.

Oh Young-hwan, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, stated in a briefing after the policy coordination meeting that the party's position is that "we absolutely cannot deem the two nominees qualified." He explained, "Regarding nominee Lee, there was an opinion from our party's hearing committee members that he poses the highest risk of growing into a loyal subordinate to power, essentially completing President Yoon's special investigation team line." He added, "Nominee Han was also described as a corporate yes-man, with many controversies over conflicts of interest, high salary, and false address registration."

He criticized, "While recommending unqualified personnel, emphasizing that the opposition is obstructing by not quickly approving them is understandable as a desire to regulate, but I want to ask whether the public will think or accept it that way."

Nominees Han and Lee completed their personnel hearings at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee and Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 2nd and 5th respectively, but the adoption of the reports failed. The deadline for sending the personnel hearing progress reports for both nominees expired on the 13th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, President Yoon requested the National Assembly the day before to resend the personnel hearing progress reports for the two nominees by the 15th. Lee Jae-myung, deputy spokesperson of the presidential office, warned in a briefing at the presidential office building, "Despite exceeding the deadline stipulated by the Personnel Hearing Act, the Democratic Party opposes adopting the progress reports," adding, "Refusing adoption even by violating the legal deadline risks being seen as reckless obstruction of state affairs."

Members of the Democratic Party from the Political Affairs Committee and Legislation and Judiciary Committee hold the position that the two nominees are unfit for the roles of Prosecutor General and Fair Trade Commission Chairman, and do not agree to adopt the hearing reports. A member of the Political Affairs Committee explained, "Nominee Han is an unqualified figure as Fair Trade Commission Chairman. However, since the opposition could be framed as obstructing if they declare him unqualified, they are currently not agreeing to adopt the progress report." He added, "It seems President Yoon will proceed with the appointments regardless."

A Democratic Party official from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee pointed out, "During the Prosecutor General hearing process, summons and non-custodial indictments against Representative Lee began the very next day. Nothing has been done regarding Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, and there is no expectation for political neutrality or public interest." He continued, "Regardless of whether the reports are resent, we are not in a position to adopt them," and predicted, "Even if we write 'unqualified,' I don't think the appointments will be stopped."

At the meeting, Lee Jang-seop, deputy floor leader, also criticized, "President Yoon requested resubmission after just one day," saying, "It can only be interpreted as an order to follow his will."

If the hearing reports are not adopted, President Yoon is highly likely to push through the appointments of the two nominees. According to the Personnel Hearing Act, the president sends the personnel hearing request to the National Assembly, and if 20 days pass without a report being sent, the president can request resubmission within a set period of 10 days. If this period passes without a report, the president can appoint the nominees as ministers starting the next day.

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