Constitutional Court Justice Nominee Hearing Turns into a 'Yoon Government Criticism' Battle

At the confirmation hearing for Kim Bok-hyung (56, Judicial Research and Training Institute class of 24), a nominee for the Constitutional Court Justice held on the 10th by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the ruling and opposition parties focused their criticism more on the investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee's luxury handbag allegations and the opposition's martial law conspiracy theory than on verifying Kim's qualifications.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Seong-yoon asked Kim, "What would you do if a family member of the nominee received a 3 million won Dior bag as a token of gratitude?" He added, "The term 'reversion to the state treasury' means that seized items revert to the state treasury. I think this is akin to an act of evidence destruction," and sought Kim's opinion.

The government's pro-Japanese controversy also came under scrutiny. Lee criticized, "They appointed a supporter of restoring the honor of pro-Japanese collaborators as the director of the Independence Hall and appointed someone who claims that our people had Japanese nationality during the Japanese colonial period as the Minister of Labor."

Nominee for Constitutional Court Justice Kim Bok-hyung speaking
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Jong-chan = Nominee for Constitutional Court Justice Kim Bok-hyung is speaking at the confirmation hearing held on the morning of the 10th at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul. 2024.9.10
saba@yna.co.kr
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In response, Kim said, "I think it is inappropriate to mention this matter here at this time." When Kim avoided giving clear answers to all questions, Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, warned, "There is no legal provision for a confirmation hearing where the nominee evades by saying it is inappropriate to mention."

Then, Song Seok-jun, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, questioned, "We also forced the previous Prosecutor General nominee to answer. Is it normal parliamentary procedure to force a response by asking for an answer that it is inappropriate?" Song criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "The opposition is not helping but rather obstructing."