People Power Party Juniors Criticize Kwon Oeul as "Minister of Reward"

Confirmation Hearing for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Nominee
Ruling Party Lawmakers Criticize Kwon Oeul as a "Reward Appointment"
Questions Raised Over Lack of Expertise and Election Reimbursement Issue

Members of the People Power Party, who are junior to Kwon Oeul, the three-term lawmaker and nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from the predecessor of the People Power Party, the Grand National Party, sharply criticized him.

Kwon Oeul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, is drinking water during the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

During the confirmation hearing for Kwon held by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on the 15th, People Power Party lawmakers launched fierce attacks, targeting Kwon's background as a member of the Grand National Party, the predecessor of their own party, and accusing him of being a "reward appointment."

Lee Yangsoo, a member of the People Power Party, began by saying, "Kwon Oeul entered politics through the Little Democratic Party (the former United Democratic Party), became a lawmaker, then moved to the New Korea Party and our party, serving three terms as a lawmaker." He continued, "This time, he switched parties again, declared his support for presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung, and now, despite lacking expertise, he is being given the position of Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, so he quickly stepped forward." Lee added, "There is a saying that even a starving tiger does not eat grass, but in this case, it seems like not just the grass but even the roots are being consumed, making it hard to watch," and further commented, "Do you know that people are even sarcastically saying you are someone who only seeks out sweet spots and lives off the honey?"

In response, Kwon said, "I actually saw that in an article," and added, "I just thought, 'So that's what people think.'"

Regarding the suspicion raised against Kwon of failing to return 270 million won in election reimbursement after a conviction for violating election law, Kwon explained, "At the time, I was struggling with heavy election debts from the 2020 general election," and continued, "I immediately returned 90 million won, but could not return the rest. This time, my spouse apparently felt sorry for me and helped pay 50 million won."

Kwon was also criticized for being a "non-expert in veterans affairs." During the hearing, People Power Party lawmaker Chu Kyungho pointed out, "Kwon Oeul has no experience in veterans affairs," and added, "During his three terms as a lawmaker, he had no experience in the National Defense Committee or the Political Affairs Committee, which handle veterans affairs."

In response, Kwon said, "While I was Secretary General of the National Assembly, I organized events inviting Korean War veterans and hosted a musical screening related to the independence movement," and added, "As a lawmaker, I proposed legislation related to independence patriots and promoted the establishment of the Gyeongbuk Independence Memorial Hall."

When Chu asked, "After being nominated as Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, your first official activity was attending a rally calling for the enactment of the Gyeongbuk Wildfire Special Act. There are criticisms that the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has become the 'Ministry of Reward' for Lee Jaemyung. Are you planning to run for governor of North Gyeongsang Province in next year's local elections?" Kwon firmly replied, "No." Kwon had previously been recruited to the Democratic Party's campaign during the last presidential election.