Amid Kim Haeng Controversy, Yeo Ga Wi Fails to Schedule Hearing... Will Appointment Proceed Without Hearing?

'Jamboree Disruption' Talks Halted Amid Ruling and Opposition Conflict
No Discussions Since Failed Hearing Before Chuseok
Opposition Reviewing 'Nomination Withdrawal Demand'

It has been ten days since Kim Haeng was nominated as the new Minister of Gender Equality and Family, but the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee has yet to agree on a schedule for the confirmation hearing. The ruling and opposition parties are unable to discuss any matters, including the hearing and the national audit, as they clash over responsibility for the Jamboree fiasco.

According to the Gender Equality and Family Committee on the 25th, the ruling and opposition parties had previously discussed holding Kim's hearing before the Chuseok holiday (from the 28th of this month to the 2nd of next month), but no agreement was reached. According to the Act on Testimony and Appraisal in the National Assembly, at least seven days are required to adopt a subpoena for witnesses, but only three days remain until the holiday. The confirmation hearing for Shin Won-sik, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, is scheduled for the 27th, and the hearing for Yoo In-chon, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is set for the 5th of next month.

Accordingly, the opposition proposed holding the hearing around the 4th to 6th, immediately after Chuseok, but negotiations have stalled. A National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee opposition party official said, "The ruling and opposition parties were negotiating the hearing schedule but then held a plenary session to adopt the national audit schedule first, which ended in disruption," adding, "There is no response from the ruling party overall, including on witness negotiations for the audit." On the other hand, a ruling party official explained, "We originally planned to hold it before Chuseok, but there was no response from the opposition," and "We need to start by adopting the confirmation hearing plan and then coordinate the timing."

The difficulty in reaching an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties is not only about the hearing but also about negotiating the schedule and witnesses for the national audit. The ruling and opposition parties, representing the current and previous governments respectively, are at odds over responsibility for the Jamboree fiasco, making it difficult to finalize the list of witnesses.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Tensions continued during the plenary session held on the 21st. When ruling party lawmakers requested procedural remarks before the session from Kwon In-sook, chairperson of the Gender Equality and Family Committee, they were refused and subsequently walked out. As a result, the national audit plan was adopted in the absence of ruling party lawmakers. A ruling party official said, "During the last briefing on current issues, when we (the ruling party) requested about 20 people, the opposition also included various individuals," adding, "I understand that the opposition is preparing to gather witnesses to create opportunities for attacks this time as well."

Currently, various allegations related to nominee Kim continue to surface, ranging from controversies over blind trust of stocks to remarks on abortion. However, some speculate that the government might push ahead with the appointment without holding a hearing. Although the Confirmation Hearing Act does not prohibit appointments without hearings, it inevitably carries political burdens. In the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Seung-gyeom, and National Tax Service Commissioner Kim Chang-gi were appointed without National Assembly confirmation hearings.

Accordingly, the opposition is reportedly considering demanding the withdrawal of the ministerial nomination or holding a unilateral confirmation hearing if negotiations do not progress within this week.

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