DP Criticizes PPP’s Boycott of Lee Hyehoon Hearing as “National Assembly’s Constitutional Duty”

Members of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea urged cooperation on the 18th, criticizing the People Power Party's complete refusal to participate in the confirmation hearing for Lee Hyehoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, as "the National Assembly abandoning its own authority and responsibility."

Lee Hyehoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, is arriving at the confirmation hearing office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

In their statement, they said, "Confirmation hearings for cabinet members are a constitutional and legal duty that the National Assembly must fulfill on behalf of the people," adding, "The Democratic Party will take full responsibility to ensure the hearing is held properly until the end," and requested, "We ask the People Power Party to cooperate as well."

They continued, "The People Power Party claims to be refusing the hearing due to insufficient submission of materials, but the nominee's side has been making efforts to submit the key documents requested by the People Power Party up until today," explaining, "The Democratic Party is also continuously urging responsible submission of materials."

Furthermore, they stated, "It is unreasonable for the People Power Party to claim that the Democratic Party's submission of a request to convene the confirmation hearing is an attempt to hold the hearing unilaterally," adding, "Given that the People Power Party has officially declared its refusal to participate, submitting the request to convene the hearing is an unavoidable measure to ensure the hearing can be held properly."

Lawmakers from both parties on the Planning and Finance Committee had agreed on January 13 to hold the confirmation hearing for the nominee on January 19, but the People Power Party announced a complete refusal to participate, citing the nominee's insufficient submission of materials as the reason.