[Summary] "Not a matter of withdrawing the nomination" vs "Do you think the people are dogs and pigs?" Lawmakers' clash over Byeon Chang-heum's controversial remarks

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport nominee Byeon Chang-heum is arriving at the hearing preparation office set up at the Seoul Regional Land Management Office in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The ruling and opposition parties clashed over past controversial remarks made by Byun Chang-heum, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, ahead of his confirmation hearing scheduled for the 23rd. While the Democratic Party of Korea drew a line stating that the remarks do not constitute grounds for disqualification, the People Power Party strongly criticized them as "remarks close to a curse."

Earlier, on the 18th, controversy arose after allegations that nominee Byun had made inappropriate remarks as a ministerial candidate.

According to the minutes of the 'Construction Safety Business Headquarters Managers' Meeting' of the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) obtained by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye on that day, Byun referred to the SH Guryong Station accident on June 30, 2016, saying, "Actually, it was nothing, but if he (victim Kim) had paid just a little more attention, it could have been as if nothing happened."

The Guryong Station accident involved Kim, an SH subcontractor employee who was repairing a screen door alone on the platform of Seoul Metro's Guryong Station and was struck and killed by a train.

The ruling party partially accepted Byun's remarks but emphasized the need to understand the full context of the statement at the time, advocating a cautious approach.

Park Sung-min, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of September 9. / Photo by Yonhap News

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Park Sung-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' on the 21st and said, "It was a very inappropriate remark, and no matter what explanation is given, I think it is difficult to cover up the fact," but also drew a line by saying, "There will be no withdrawal of the nomination or anything like that."

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' the same day and said, "The nominee (Byun) has apologized," adding, "We need to hear more about the context in which it was said during the confirmation hearing."

When asked if resignation was inappropriate, he said, "It is true that there is a lot of criticism from the public," but added, "It is necessary to find out the context in which it was said."

Fellow party member Lee Won-wook also said in a radio interview that day, "I hope people look at the overall context," pointing out, "Even if the overall context of a statement is good, if one example is taken out of context, it can cause controversy as if that is everything, even if the actual message was the opposite."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

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On the other hand, the opposition strongly criticized nominee Byun, saying he "poured out remarks close to a curse on the people."

Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, issued a statement on the 21st, saying, "The public's suspicion is growing as to why someone who hurls remarks close to a curse at the people should be seated in such a position," and criticized, "There are even heated criticisms that the ruling power really regards the people as dogs and pigs."

Calls for resignation also emerged. On the 20th, People Power Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young said in a statement, "The whole country is in turmoil because of the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The answer is not an 'apology' but 'resignation,'" and criticized, "Hearing your past remarks, the indifference and coldness toward people in difficult circumstances is chilling."

He added, "Does a single apology really change one's inner perception?" and criticized, "Does nominee Byun Chang-heum have a 'country for the common people'?"

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, attending the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th / Photo by Yonhap News

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Meanwhile, the confirmation hearing for nominee Byun by the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee is scheduled for the 23rd. Earlier, on the afternoon of the 16th, the committee adopted a plan to hold the confirmation hearing for nominee Byun at a plenary meeting.

The opposition has also announced plans for a so-called "thorough scrutiny" of nominee Byun. On the 18th, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young urged at a National Assembly confirmation hearing countermeasures meeting, "I hope the candidates will be thoroughly examined on behalf of the people to determine their suitability."

On the same day, party policy chief Lee Jong-bae also emphasized, "It is expected that the government and ruling party will try to neutralize the hearing again," adding, "We will thoroughly scrutinize whether the nominee is qualified and has no flaws and disclose the details to the public."

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