Ruling and Opposition Parties at an Impasse Over Hearing Reports, Only Confirm Differences

Closed-Door Meeting Between Ruling and Opposition Floor Leaders

The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties held negotiations on July 18 regarding the adoption of personnel hearing reports for the first cabinet minister nominees of the Lee Jaemyung administration, but were unable to narrow their differences.

Song Eonseok, Chairman of the Emergency Committee and Floor Leader of the People Power Party (left in the photo), and Kim Byunggi, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, are having a conversation at the 77th Constitution Day Celebration held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kim Byunggi, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, and Song Eonseok, Chairman of the Emergency Committee and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, met in the office of the National Assembly Steering Committee Chair that afternoon to discuss issues related to the personnel hearings.

After the closed-door meeting, Floor Leader Kim told reporters, "We confirmed our differences regarding the personnel hearings," and added, "We will respect the opinions of the standing committees, which found that there were no particular issues amounting to disqualification for the minister nominees, and we will notify the Presidential Secretariat of the results as requested by the standing committees."

Floor Leader Song explained to reporters, "We concluded today's meeting with the agreement to take more time over the weekend for further discussions so that the positions of both parties can be coordinated."

He stated, "I said that the government and the ruling party should make forward-looking decisions regarding the nominees' appointments in accordance with the results of the personnel hearings and in line with the will of the people," and added, "The Democratic Party maintained its position that all nominees should proceed without any being dropped."

So far, a total of five nominees have had their personnel hearing reports adopted: Koo Yooncheol for Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Economy and Finance, Cho Hyun for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Jeonggwan for Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Jeong Seongho for Ministry of Justice, and Bae Kyunghoon for Ministry of Science and ICT.

Previously, the People Power Party had refused to adopt the reports for all nominees, demanding the withdrawal of some candidates. However, ahead of tariff negotiations with the United States, the party decided to cooperate only in adopting hearing reports for the ministers of economy, foreign affairs, and trade, citing national interest.

The report for Minister Bae Kyunghoon was adopted before the People Power Party's policy was announced, and the report for nominee Jeong Seongho at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was adopted through a vote led by the Democratic Party despite opposition from the People Power Party.

The Democratic Party plans to proceed with party-led votes to adopt the reports, as in the case of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, if adoption is delayed due to opposition from the People Power Party.

Floor Leader Kim stated, "Standing committees chaired by Democratic Party members, which have the authority, will adopt the reports," and added, "For committees where we do not hold the chair, if the Presidential Secretariat requests resubmission of the reports, we will proceed according to that request."