Sim Woo-jung Hearing 'Refusal to Submit Documents' Criticized by Opposition Committee Member... Recess After 50 Minutes of Start

Shim "Prosecutors Will Gain Public Trust When They Fully Do What They Must"

The parliamentary confirmation hearing for nominee Shim Woo-jung for Prosecutor General faced difficulties from the start as opposition party members continued to criticize the 'refusal to submit materials.'

At the confirmation hearing held on the 3rd, opposition members repeatedly raised issues regarding Shim's refusal to submit requested materials. The hearing was adjourned less than 50 minutes after it began and resumed only after 40 minutes following discussions between ruling and opposition party secretaries.

Shim Woo-jung, nominee for Prosecutor General, is answering questions at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party, the opposition party secretary, said, "The nominee has not submitted as much as 70% of the 377 documents requested by the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party," adding, "It is very regrettable that the nominee is not even complying with the Confirmation Hearing Act itself."

Kim demanded documents including the details of special activity expenses, the circumstances under which an additional 2 billion KRW was inherited two years after the death of the nominee's father-in-law, the spouse's immigration records and stock trading history, as well as the child's scholarship details and any involvement in school violence, but Shim did not submit these materials.

Park Eun-jung of the Innovation Party said, "Two years after the death of the spouse's father, a lump sum of 3 billion KRW in cash appeared, but the nominee has not submitted documents indicating from which cabinet this money came," and questioned, "Is there anything illegal about the additional 2 billion KRW inheritance?"

She added, "If the refusal to submit materials continues, I believe the nominee is unqualified. This confirmation hearing should be stopped."

Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo criticized, "Is the Prosecutor General a monarch? Why won't the nominee provide the requested materials?" and pointed out, "The hearing members do not even know which school the nominee's children attended."

In response to these criticisms from opposition lawmakers, Shim said, "During the preparation for the hearing, I tried my best to submit materials sincerely, but I ask for understanding regarding the inability to submit sensitive personal information about my family."

On the other hand, Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party defended Shim, saying, "When conducting confirmation hearings, unless there are special suspicions, both ruling and opposition parties have mutually agreed not to request materials related to family or children," and added, "Considering the Confirmation Hearing Act, the failure to submit materials is not necessarily a unilateral violation."

As the opposition continued procedural motions demanding Shim's submission of materials, the hearing was adjourned less than 50 minutes after it began.

When the hearing resumed after 40 minutes, Shim agreed to submit documents regarding his family's alma maters, his children's scholarship details and involvement in school violence, as well as drug case investigation materials from his tenure as head of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, allowing the substantive questioning to begin.

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Shim said, "Reflecting on my public service career to stand here today, I have repeatedly considered how to lead the prosecution as the head of the organization," and added, "I have deeply pondered what and how the prosecution should do to gain the trust of the people."

He said, "The public expects the prosecution to protect me and my neighbors from crime and to handle each case entrusted to them with care and promptness as if it were their own or their family's," and stated, "I believe now is the time for the prosecution to faithfully fulfill the role that the people expect more than ever."

Shim expressed, "I believe that the prosecution will earn the trust of the people when it fully performs its duties, and I, along with all members of the prosecution, will do our best with one heart and one mind to become the people's prosecution that fulfills its original role."

He also declared his principles and determination to ▲focus the prosecution's capabilities on protecting the people from crime, ▲actively respond to major crimes such as corruption and economic crimes that shake the foundation of the nation, and ▲faithfully fulfill the prosecution's original function as a human rights advocacy institution.