Han Deok-su Confirmation Hearing Ultimately Adjourned... Resumes Tomorrow at 10 AM

by Kim HyeongMin

Published 25 Apr.2022 18:08(KST)

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo appeared at the Special Committee on Personnel Hearings held at the National Assembly on the 25th and responded to questions from Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo was held at the National Assembly on the 25th but was repeatedly disrupted on the first day due to a 'boycott' by the Democratic Party and the Justice Party, eventually adjourning.

The hearing for nominee Han is scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on the 26th, but it is uncertain whether it will proceed as planned.

The hearing was held at 10 a.m. at the National Assembly with members of the People Power Party, including Chairman Joo Ho-young, in attendance. However, Democratic Party and Justice Party members, who requested a postponement of the hearing schedule citing incomplete submission of materials, did not attend, leading to an adjournment 39 minutes after the session began. Subsequently, the ruling and opposition parties held two rounds of consultations in the afternoon.

However, the disagreement between Seong Il-jong, the People Power Party secretary who requested the hearing to resume, and Kang Byung-won, the Democratic Party secretary who demanded thorough submission of materials, remained unresolved.

At the resumed hearing at 4:30 p.m., People Power Party members again requested the Democratic Party and Justice Party members to allow the hearing to proceed smoothly.

Committee member Seong Il-jong said, "It is difficult to hold the hearing without the Democratic Party. It is fundamental to cooperative governance that both ruling and opposition parties conduct the verification of the prime minister nominee together," adding, "I understand that nominee Han has submitted all the materials requested by Secretary Kang Byung-won this morning."

People Power Party member Kim Mi-ae also said, "The country will suffer the loss caused by the disruption of the hearing process," and added, "I hope you come to the hearing room and disclose what you want to verify here." She further stated, "We will take responsibility to ensure that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration can launch with the prime minister and cabinet members appointed by May 10."