Focusing Only on Flaws, Ignoring Competence... Confirmation Hearings Fuel Fear Among Public Officials [Competence Should Come First]

Repeated Disruptions in Confirmation Hearings Over Document Submission
Fear of Confirmation Hearings Grows After the Cho Kuk Incident
Successive Administrations Lament "Personal Attacks Instead of Fair Assessment"

Editor's NotePlacing the right talent in the right position is directly linked to the success or failure of national governance. The saying "personnel is everything" did not arise by chance. The problem is that, even if there is a desire to use talented individuals, it is difficult to do so in reality. Even when suitable candidates are identified and considered for important roles, it is common for them to decline. This situation is closely related to the fact that systems established for vetting public officials are now blocking the appointment of talented individuals. It is problematic when the scrutiny of private lives takes precedence over the evaluation of competence. With the current confirmation hearing system, which focuses on scrutinizing not only the public official but also their spouse and children for personal flaws, it is inevitably difficult to appoint capable individuals. This series examines the recurring problems of the confirmation hearing system whenever a new administration takes office and seeks ways to improve it.

"When appointing someone, we should weigh the reasons for their selection, their abilities, and any issues or shortcomings revealed during the vetting process to decide whether to proceed. However, our confirmation hearings have become focused solely on flaws, completely disregarding the candidate's abilities."

Former President Moon Jae-in made these remarks at a press conference marking his fourth year in office in May 2021, highlighting the problems of the confirmation hearing process. Previously, in 2020, Moon also told then-National Assembly Speaker Park Byeongseok that "most people refuse to be nominated for public office because of the humiliating nature of the confirmation hearings," and asked for solutions to be sought. This means that the shortage of high-ranking officials begins even at the stage of sounding out potential candidates.

Other administrations have had similar views. Former President Park Geun-hye lamented after the fall of Prime Minister nominee Moon Changgeuk, saying, "Instead of a comprehensive assessment of qualifications, repeated personal attacks and trial-by-public-opinion have led many to decline or be blocked by family opposition." Park attempted to replace then-Prime Minister Chung Hongwon, but nominee Ahn Daehee withdrew over excessive legal fees during his time as a lawyer, and Moon Changgeuk withdrew due to controversy over past remarks. In the end, Park had to retain Chung as Prime Minister.

Recently, this trend has intensified. Looking at the confirmation hearings over the past eight years, the process has left a trail akin to a series of disasters.

Under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, seven high-ranking nominees have withdrawn. Kim Incheol, former president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was nominated as the first Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education in the Yoon administration, but withdrew before the hearing due to the so-called "room salon thesis review" controversy. For the Minister of Health and Welfare, both Jeong Ho-young, former director of Kyungpook National University Hospital, and former lawmaker Kim Seunghee were nominated but repeatedly withdrew, resulting in the appointment of a Minister only five months after the government was launched. Jeong Ho-young withdrew amid allegations of preferential admission for his children to medical school, while Kim Seunghee was embroiled in suspicions of violating the Political Funds Act by using political funds for rental car expenses during her time as a lawmaker.

The main reasons for the withdrawal of ministerial nominees during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration were mostly controversies over inappropriate remarks such as sexual harassment or hate speech, suspicions of preferential treatment for family members, and thesis plagiarism.

On March 6, during the confirmation hearing for Kim Daewoong, a nominee for the Central Election Commission at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, a brief recess was called amid disputes between ruling and opposition party members over the attendance of No Taeak, Chairman of the Central Election Commission. During the recess, Lee Manhee of the People Power Party and Lee Kwanghee of the Democratic Party were engaged in a heated argument in the hallway. 2025.3.6 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

During the Moon Jae-in administration, there were also eight cases related to confirmation hearings, including seven voluntary withdrawals before the hearings and one resignation within six months after appointment. This includes former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who resigned just 35 days after being appointed. As a result of various controversies that arose during his confirmation hearing, Cho and his wife were legally punished, and his daughter, who held a medical license, had her admission and other qualifications revoked. Cho, who is now serving a sentence for issues addressed during the hearing, described the process as a "massacre of the entire family."

In addition, nominees such as former Minister of Justice Ahn Kyunghwan, former Constitutional Court Justice nominee Lee Yoojeong, former Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Sungjin, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Choi Jeongho, former Minister of Science and ICT Cho Dongho, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Park Junyoung, and former Minister of Employment and Labor Cho Daeyeop withdrew before or after their hearings. The reasons for their withdrawal were mostly moral suspicions unrelated to their individual qualifications or abilities, such as issues over a son's study abroad expenses or a wife's purchase of ceramics. As the focus shifted to controversies and explanations over these suspicions, the original purpose of the appointment and the candidate's abilities were pushed out of the spotlight.

In particular, the case of former Minister Cho Kuk increased the fear of confirmation hearings within the public sector. Since then, the submission of documents related to family members, especially children, has become a major issue at every hearing. Allegations concerning candidates' children have been raised at each hearing, and candidates have refused to submit related documents. They have cited the privacy protection provisions of the Confirmation Hearing Act as the reason for refusing to submit such materials. The problem is that these conflicts over document submission have led to the breakdown of hearings, resulting in one- or two-day hearings ending without meaningful outcomes.

For example, during last year's confirmation hearing for Prosecutor General Sim Woojeong, there was much debate over the submission of documents. Kim Seungwon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and member of the hearing committee, criticized, "Even our Judiciary Committee members do not know what schools the candidate's children are attending or have attended." Sim, having decided to submit the documents, remarked, "I had many thoughts about whether I should submit the materials," leaving a lingering impression. During the hearing, suspicions were raised about the employment of Sim's children, and the controversy remained unresolved as the hearing concluded.

Although there have been discussions in political circles about reforming the confirmation hearing system, no consensus has been reached. In December 2014, the Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) proposed a task force for reforming the confirmation hearing system, suggesting a closed subcommittee for moral screening and prohibiting the disclosure of information or materials learned during the vetting process. However, the opposition party at the time did not respond positively.

During the Moon Jae-in administration, the ruling and opposition floor leaders discussed forming a task force to improve the confirmation hearing system. They considered a system in which both parties would share and review the Blue House's vetting materials, hold a closed moral screening hearing first, and then conduct a public hearing focused only on abilities and qualifications. However, this was never realized. Both sides recognize the problems and the need for improvement, but whenever the ruling and opposition parties switch roles, their perspectives change, and consensus remains elusive.