Confirmation Hearing for Minseok Kim Ends in Disarray Amid Opposition Boycott
Song Eonseok: "The Boycott Was by Both Minseok Kim and the Democratic Party"
Standoff Over Document Submission... Ruling Party Expected to Push Confirmation Forward
Regarding the disruption of the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim due to the opposition party's absence, the People Power Party criticized on the 26th, "It is both nominee Kim and the Democratic Party of Korea who have boycotted the hearing." The People Power Party stated that it would resume the hearing if nominee Kim submits documents related to the formation of his assets even now. However, as the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, is expected to push ahead with the confirmation, the standoff continues.
Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim is attending the second day of the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
Song Eonseok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th, "Nominee Kim and the Democratic Party have created the worst-ever confirmation hearing, with no witnesses, no references, and no document submissions." He added, "It has become clear to everyone that nominee Kim lacks both morality and competence, making him unfit to be Prime Minister. He claims he has disclosed everything, but the public does not know what he has actually submitted or what has been revealed."
Bae Junyoung, the People Power Party secretary of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Personnel Hearings, also held a press conference on the same day, stating, "The various suspicions regarding nominee Kim's morality are straightforward. His income was 500 million won, but he spent 1.3 billion won. He must explain the 800 million won difference." He continued, "The hearing can only proceed if we receive documents related to loan repayments and gift tax. However, since nominee Kim ultimately refused to submit these, the hearing was adjourned, and all responsibility lies with the nominee and the Democratic Party."
The People Power Party reiterated that it would resume the hearing if nominee Kim submits the requested documents. However, nominee Kim maintains that People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jinwoo must first apologize for raising suspicions that "6 hundred million won in cash was stacked and used," making the resumption of the hearing unlikely. Representative Bae said, "The saying 'the pot calling the kettle black' is apt here. Is it the proper attitude of a public official to demand an apology before submitting documents?"
Bae Junyoung, a member of the People Power Party and the secretary of the Special Committee on Personnel Hearings for Prime Minister nominee Kim Minseok, is holding a press conference on the 26th at the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, Representative Joo posted on Facebook, a social networking service (SNS), "(According to nominee Kim's claim,) if you add up the money that his mother-in-law frequently gave his spouse, it amounts to just over 200 million won. Of that, about 100 million won was in cash. He paid the gift tax after being nominated for Prime Minister." He pointed out, "Whether high-ranking public officials and their spouses have paid taxes is a mandatory verification item. The gift tax payment record is favorable for nominee Kim, so why doesn't he submit it?"
On the other hand, the Democratic Party maintains that, since the suspicions surrounding nominee Kim were addressed during the hearing, the adoption of the report should proceed through bipartisan agreement. Even if the People Power Party opposes and the report is not adopted, the Democratic Party is expected to use its majority to push through the confirmation vote. Kim Hyun, the Democratic Party secretary of the Special Committee on Personnel Hearings, told reporters the previous day, "We plan to put the confirmation motion to a vote on the 30th."
The People Power Party also announced plans to significantly strengthen the vetting of future ministerial nominees. President Lee Jaemyung recently appointed heads of 11 ministries and the Minister for Government Policy Coordination (a minister-level position). Floor leader Song urged lawmakers, "Although local activities may be busy, please restrain them and thoroughly prepare for the ministerial confirmation hearings. I also ask you to actively engage in public opinion campaigns and comprehensive preparations in response to the Democratic Party's legislative push."
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