President Lee Delivers First Policy Speech at National Assembly
Exchanges Words with Opposition Lawmakers While Leaving Chamber
President Lee Jae Myung is shaking hands with members of the People Power Party after delivering the supplementary budget policy speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News
President Lee Jae-myung drew a clear line by saying it would be "difficult" to withdraw the nomination of Prime Minister-designate Kim Min-seok, despite requests from members of the People Power Party. With Kim's confirmation hearing ending in chaos amid a standoff between the ruling and opposition parties, it appears President Lee will push ahead with appointing Kim as prime minister.
On June 26, after delivering his first supplementary budget policy speech at the National Assembly since taking office, President Lee was approached by People Power Party lawmakers who asked him to withdraw Kim's nomination as prime minister. Representative Lim Jongdeuk of the People Power Party asked President Lee, as they shook hands after the speech, "Given the various public opinions, don't you think you should reconsider the prime minister nomination?" According to Representative Lim, President Lee responded, "Wouldn't it be difficult (to withdraw)?"
Representative Kwon Seongdong of the People Power Party also conveyed a similar opinion to President Lee as he reached the last row of the plenary chamber. Kwon, smiling, spoke to President Lee while shaking his hand, and President Lee lightly tapped Kwon's right arm with his left hand as he passed by. Regarding this, Representative Kwon told reporters, "I told him twice that the prime minister appointment shouldn't go ahead, and President Lee just said he understood, tapped me, and walked away."
Kim Yongtae, acting chairman of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, said, "I requested the withdrawal of Kim's nomination to the president," adding, "President Lee did not make any particular comment at the time." Kim continued, "However, an official from the presidential office who was present asked us to consider that the president's approval rating is over 50%, which was surprising." Kim also expressed opposition to Kim's nomination, stating, "Whether it's the president or senior officials, there should be a personnel system that aligns with the common sense of the public."
Kim's confirmation hearing ended in disorder due to conflict between the ruling and opposition parties, making it unlikely that the opposition will adopt a confirmation report. The People Power Party's special confirmation committee maintains that Kim failed to submit key documents, including records of loans and repayments and gift tax payment details. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is expected to proceed with a confirmation vote in the National Assembly on June 30, regardless of the confirmation report. If President Lee presses ahead with Kim's appointment without the adoption of a confirmation report, it would be the first such case since former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon during the Moon Jae-in administration.
Meanwhile, President Lee also received requests related to the supplementary budget. Representative Yoo Yongwon of the People Power Party whispered to President Lee as he was leaving, pointing out, "The supplementary budget does not include funding to improve conditions for military officers." Representative Yoo said, "The president nodded and asked me to make the request through official channels."
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