[2024 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Clash Over 'Kim Moon-soo History Hall'... "Leave" vs "Demanding Apology Sets Bad Precedent"

The Environment and Labor Committee Suspends Before Starting

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo's view of history during the National Assembly's audit. When the opposition demanded Kim's apology and resignation, the ruling party countered that repeatedly demanding an apology was excessive. The Environment and Labor Committee's audit could not even begin and was eventually adjourned.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo is responding to questions from lawmakers during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held on the morning of the 10th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, Park Hong-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked during the Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "During the personnel hearing last August, issues were raised regarding Minister Kim's attitude and historical awareness, but he did not bend his New Right historical view, which ultimately led to the hearing's breakdown. Does Chairman Ahn Ho-young of the Environment and Labor Committee have the willingness to offer a sincere apology for the defamation of the deceased and the bereaved families of the Ssangyong Motor labor incident?"

Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu also demanded an apology from Minister Kim. He said, "Minister Kim's official apology should be recorded in the National Assembly records," and pointed out, "Recently, during a government questioning session, he said that our ancestors had no nationality during the Japanese colonial period, which is sophistry and a treasonous statement that directly rejects the national policy of the Republic of Korea."

Minister Kim did not relent in his claim that the nationality of ancestors during the Japanese colonial period was Japanese. He responded, "If you study various things, when going abroad, the passport indication and the judicial examination application inevitably specify nationality, and many documents express it as the nationality of the Japanese Empire. This is the historical reality. However, that does not mean that the Korean ethnicity of our Republic of Korea disappeared." He added, "Nationality and ethnicity are different issues," and "Just because the nationality of the Japanese Empire was forcibly imposed on us does not mean our ethnicity becomes Japanese."

At the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee hearing on the Ministry of Employment and Labor held on the morning of the 10th, the session was adjourned due to a ruling party and opposition dispute over Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo's confirmation hearing remark that "the nationality of ancestors during the Japanese colonial period was Japanese."
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Opposition lawmakers immediately protested and demanded Minister Kim's resignation. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae-sun said, "It is regrettable that this place seems to have become another personnel hearing, and a removal action is necessary," adding, "What we are focusing on is pointing out that Japan forcibly invaded (our sovereignty), which is wrong."

Minister Kim replied, "I agree with your thoughts," but lawmakers from both sides began raising their voices. Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party said, "Isn't this going too far? This is today's Ministry of Employment and Labor audit, so let's not waste precious time," and added, "Demanding an apology every time Minister Kim is called is really a bad precedent even in the eyes of the public."

Chairman Ahn again asked Minister Kim, "If the 1910 Japan-Korea Forced Annexation Treaty is invalid, isn't the fact that the passport lists nationality as Japanese itself unacceptable?" Minister Kim gave ambiguous answers. He said, "Just because nationality was listed as Japanese does not mean one becomes Japanese," but also responded, "In the 1965 Japan-Korea Agreement, it was stated that Japan's forced invasion was invalid, but the interpretations of the two countries differ."

Opposition lawmakers raised their voices again, asking Minister Kim, "So is it invalid or not?" Ruling party lawmakers, including Im Eui-ja of the People Power Party, shouted, "It was clearly stated as invalid, wasn't it?" Ultimately, the audit targeting the Ministry of Employment and Labor did not take place, and the session was adjourned at 10:55 a.m. that day.