People Power Party Approves Appointment of Ministers for Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Industry
"A Grand Decision Made with the Sole Purpose of Protecting the National Interest"
Kang Sunwoo and Lee Jinsook Still Deemed Unfit... Ruling and Opposition Parties to Meet in the Afternoon
On July 18, the ruling and opposition parties reached an agreement to adopt confirmation hearing reports for the nominees for Minister of Economy and Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. With the People Power Party stepping back from its previous stance of a blanket hold, the formation of President Lee Jaemyung's first cabinet saw a breakthrough. However, the opposition maintained its position that Kang Sunwoo and Lee Jinsook, who are at the center of controversy, are unfit for their respective posts. The floor leaders of both parties are scheduled to hold a sudden meeting later in the afternoon, drawing attention to whether additional reports will be adopted or any nominees will be dropped.
Kang Sunwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is seen tearing up while responding to a question about her child with developmental disabilities during the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News
The National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and Trade, Industry, SMEs and Startups Committee held plenary meetings in the morning and adopted confirmation hearing reports for Koo Yooncheol, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance, Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Kim Jungkwan, nominee for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. The report for Lim Gwanghyun, nominee for Commissioner of the National Tax Service, was also scheduled to be adopted on the same day, but was postponed due to opposition from the minority party.
Initially, the People Power Party had taken a hardline stance, declaring that it would withhold all confirmation reports until action was taken against unfit nominees. As a result, until the previous day, only the report for Baek Kyunghoon, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, had been adopted by bipartisan agreement. However, as both parties reached a consensus on the need to appoint the ministers of economy, foreign affairs, and industry for the sake of U.S. tariff negotiations, additional reports were adopted on this day.
Members of the People Power Party on the Strategy and Finance Committee, Trade and Industry Committee, and Foreign Affairs Committee issued a statement in the morning, saying, "We have decided to adopt the confirmation hearing reports for Koo Yooncheol, Kim Jungkwan, and Cho Hyun," adding, "This is a grand decision made by the People Power Party as a responsible party that puts the stability of the nation and the lives of the people first, and out of a conviction that the control towers for the economy, trade, and diplomacy must function properly to protect the national interest."
However, the People Power Party emphasized that Kang Sunwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who is embroiled in controversy over alleged abuse of aides, and Lee Jinsook, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, who faces allegations of plagiarism, should be withdrawn. Song Eonseok, acting chair and floor leader of the People Power Party's emergency committee, said at a morning party strategy meeting, "President Lee Jaemyung must immediately withdraw the nominations of unfit candidates without hesitation or lingering attachments to personal favors," adding, "We also hope for fundamental measures to prevent a repeat of this personnel disaster."
Song further stated, "The first cabinet appointments of the Lee Jaemyung administration can only be described as a total personnel disaster," adding, "Following yesterday, I once again urge President Lee for a prompt meeting to address the malfunctioning vetting system and the issue of unfit candidates."
Song and Kim Byungki, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, are scheduled to meet at the National Assembly later in the afternoon to discuss the adoption of confirmation hearing reports for other ministerial nominees. With the People Power Party having stepped back, attention is focused on whether the government and ruling party will change their stance on Kang Sunwoo and Lee Jinsook. Within the Democratic Party as well, voices deeming Kang unfit are growing, but as a decision from either the nominee or President Lee is needed, the final outcome regarding their withdrawal is expected to be decided around the weekend.
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