Confirmation Hearings Enter "Super Week"
Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash from Day One with Recesses and Adjournments
People Power Party Demands Immediate Resignation, Democratic Party Calls It "Obstruction"
The National Assembly has entered a "super week" of intensive confirmation hearings for the first cabinet nominees of the Lee Jaemyung administration. On July 14, the first day of the hearings, tensions flared between the ruling and opposition parties over the issue of witness selection and procedural statements, resulting in ongoing friction.
The reason both parties have engaged in an uncompromising power struggle is that they see this week of confirmation hearings as a critical turning point in the early days of the Lee Jaemyung administration, in which they are vying for political leadership. In particular, the opposition is aiming to reverse the political tide by seeking the rejection of at least one ministerial nominee.
On the 14th, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee full meeting held in Yeouido, Seoul, background candidate Hoon Bae, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, is waiting as members of both ruling and opposition parties have left the hearing room. Photo by Yonhap News
In fact, on this day, the People Power Party labeled Kang Sunwoo (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family), Lee Jinsook (Ministry of Education), Kwon Oeul (Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs), Chung Dongyoung (Ministry of Unification), and Cho Hyun (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as the "unqualified five traitors" and demanded the withdrawal of their nominations. In contrast, the Democratic Party dismissed these attacks as "reckless personal assaults" and maintained that the confirmation hearings would provide an opportunity to clarify any suspicions.
This atmosphere was evident throughout the hearings. At the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee, ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed from the outset over whether to make procedural statements during the confirmation hearing for Kang Sunwoo. Democratic Party members demanded procedural statements, objecting to placards displayed by People Power Party members, but Lee Inseon, the committee chair from the People Power Party, insisted that statements would be heard only after Kang's oath. As the argument escalated, Chair Lee declared a recess just 16 minutes into the hearing, before resuming the session.
At the same time, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's confirmation hearing for Bae Kyunghoon, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, descended into confusion and was adjourned before it could properly begin. People Power Party lawmakers brought placards reading "Choi Minhee Dictatorship Out," prompting Democratic Party members to protest, asking "What dictatorship?" As the commotion grew, Choi Minhee, the committee chair from the Democratic Party, abruptly adjourned the session, citing disruption of order.
The confirmation hearing for Chung Dongyoung, nominee for Minister of Unification, held by the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, also saw heated exchanges. The opposition criticized the nominee's incomplete submission of documents and the failure to reach an agreement on witness selection, while the ruling party accused the opposition of inflating suspicions and invading privacy under the pretext of collecting information. Kim Geon, opposition secretary from the People Power Party, expressed regret, saying, "The ruling party opposed witness selection, so it could not be realized." Kim Youngbae, ruling party secretary from the Democratic Party, countered by calling it "inflating suspicions."
On this day, the National Assembly also held a confirmation hearing for Jeon Jaesoo, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, in addition to Kang Sunwoo and others. Confirmation hearings for the remaining 19 nominees are scheduled to continue until July 21. The People Power Party intends to ensure that at least one or two nominees are rejected. Having already been forced to follow the ruling party's lead on matters such as the confirmation of Prime Minister Kim Minseok and the supplementary budget bill, the opposition is determined not to fall further behind.
Kang Sunwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is attending the confirmation hearing held on the 14th at the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Song Eonseok, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party's emergency committee, criticized at a committee meeting that morning, "The first cabinet of the Lee Jaemyung administration is fundamentally flawed," adding, "Strictly speaking, all are disqualified." Regarding those labeled as the "unqualified five," including Kang Sunwoo, he warned, "There is a clear risk that the confirmation hearings will devolve into a stage for baseless excuses and lies," and urged, "President Lee should immediately withdraw these nominations." The People Power Party Aides Association and the Central Next-Generation Women's Committee insisted that Kang Sunwoo, who faces allegations of mistreating aides, must step down.
The Democratic Party views the opposition's actions as an attempt to hinder state affairs. Kim Byungki, acting party leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "We will respond firmly to outdated, rumor-based, and reckless personal attacks and slander that obstruct state affairs."
Moon Jinseok, deputy floor leader for parliamentary operations, commented on the People Power Party Aides Association's protest in front of the hearing room demanding Kang Sunwoo's resignation, saying, "The confirmation hearing will determine the truth of these suspicions, and if there really is a problem, the public will judge." The party also believes that Lee Jinsook, another nominee under intense opposition scrutiny, will be able to clarify the suspicions against her.
However, the Democratic Party is exercising more caution in its remarks regarding candidate vetting than before. This is because pushing through nominees with lingering suspicions could negatively affect public opinion. Moon stated, "There are reports suggesting that our principle is 'no nominee will be rejected,' but some may indeed be rejected," adding, "It is merely our hope that all nominees will pass without any being rejected."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
