On the 14th, at the confirmation hearing for Kang Sunwoo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, Jo Eunhee, the spokesperson for the People Power Party, is posting a placard demanding resignation. Photo by Yonhap News

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The National Assembly has entered a "super week" of intensive confirmation hearings for the first cabinet nominees of the Lee Jaemyung administration. On the first day of hearings, July 14, tensions flared between the ruling and opposition parties over the selection of witnesses and procedural statements, resulting in ongoing conflict.

The reason both parties have entered into this uncompromising power struggle is because they view this week of confirmation hearings as a critical turning point in the early days of the Lee Jaemyung administration, with control of the political landscape at stake. In particular, the opposition party is aiming to reverse the political tide by forcing the withdrawal of ministerial nominees.

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on July 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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In fact, on this day, the People Power Party designated Kang Sunwoo (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family), Lee Jinsook (Ministry of Education), Kwon Oeul (Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs), Jeong Dongyoung (Ministry of Unification), and Cho Hyun (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as the "Unqualified Five" and demanded the withdrawal of their nominations. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party dismissed the opposition's offensive as "reckless personal attacks," maintaining that the hearings would clarify any suspicions.

On the 14th, at the confirmation hearing for Kang Sunwoo, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, Chairman Lee Inseon is requesting coordination from the two party secretaries for the hearing proceedings. 2025.7.14 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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This atmosphere was evident throughout the hearings. At the confirmation hearing for Kang Sunwoo held by the National Assembly's Committee on Women and Family, lawmakers from both parties clashed from the outset over whether to allow procedural statements. Democratic Party members objected to placards displayed by People Power Party members and demanded to make procedural statements, but Lee Inseon, the committee chair from the People Power Party, insisted that statements would only be heard after Kang's oath. As the dispute escalated, Chair Lee declared a recess just 16 minutes into the hearing, before later resuming the session.

On July 14, at the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Minister of Science and ICT nominee Baek Younghun is waiting as lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have left the hearing room. 2025.7.14 Photo by Yonhap News

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At the same time, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's confirmation hearing for Baek Younghun, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, descended into confusion and was adjourned before it could properly begin. People Power Party lawmakers entered with placards reading "Choi Minhee Dictatorship Out," prompting Democratic Party lawmakers to protest, asking, "What dictatorship?" As the situation grew chaotic, Choi Minhee, the committee chair from the Democratic Party, declared an abrupt adjournment, citing disorder in the hearing room.

Jeong Dongyoung, nominee for Minister of Unification, is drinking water at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 14th. 2025.7.14 Photo by Yonhap News

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The confirmation hearing for Jeong Dongyoung, held by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, also saw heated exchanges. The opposition criticized Jeong for insufficient submission of materials and the failure to reach an agreement on witness selection. The ruling party, on the other hand, accused the opposition of inflating suspicions and infringing on privacy under the pretext of collecting materials. Kim Geon, the opposition secretary from the People Power Party, expressed regret, stating, "The ruling party opposed the selection of witnesses, so it could not proceed." Kim Youngbae, the ruling party secretary from the Democratic Party, countered by calling it "inflation of suspicions."

Jeon Jae-su, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Oceans Committee plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on July 14, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

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On this day, the National Assembly also held a confirmation hearing for Jeon Jae-su, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, in addition to Kang Sunwoo. Confirmation hearings for the remaining 19 nominees are scheduled to continue through July 21. The People Power Party intends to ensure that at least one or two nominees are forced to withdraw. Having already been on the defensive with the confirmation of Prime Minister Kim Minseok and the supplementary budget bill, the party is determined not to lose further ground.

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, stated at the Emergency Response Committee meeting that morning, "The first cabinet of the Lee Jaemyung administration is fundamentally flawed," and added, "Strictly speaking, all are disqualified." Regarding those labeled as "unqualified," including Kang Sunwoo, he warned, "There is a clear risk that the confirmation hearings will devolve into a platform for baseless excuses and lies," and urged, "President Lee must immediately withdraw these nominations." The People Power Party Aides Association and the Central Next Generation Women's Committee insisted that Kang Sunwoo, who is embroiled in allegations of "aide abuse," must resign.

On the 14th, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's full meeting held in Yeouido, Seoul, background candidate Bae Kyung-hoon for Minister of Science and ICT waits as members of both ruling and opposition parties exit during the confirmation hearing. 2025.7.14 Photo by Yonhap News

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The Democratic Party views the opposition's actions as obstruction of state affairs. Kim Byungki, acting party leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "We will respond firmly to outdated, rumor-based, reckless personal attacks and slander that obstruct state affairs."

Moon Jinseok, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, commented on the People Power Party Aides Association's picketing protest in front of the hearing room, demanding Kang Sunwoo's resignation, saying, "The hearings will determine the truth of the allegations, and if there really is a problem, the public will judge." The party believes that Kang, who is under intense opposition scrutiny, will be able to clarify the suspicions during the hearings.

However, the Democratic Party is also exercising more caution in its remarks regarding nominee verification than in the past. This is because pushing through nominees with lingering suspicions could negatively impact public opinion. Moon added, "There are reports suggesting that there is a principle that 'none of the nominees will be withdrawn,' but it is possible that some may be. Passing all nominees without any withdrawals is merely a hope."