Democratic Party's assembly majority seen smoothing confirmation path

Cheong Wa Dae announced Sunday that President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Ministry of SMEs and Startups Minister Han Sung-sook as the new prime minister candidate. [Yonhap]
Cheong Wa Dae announced Sunday that President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Ministry of SMEs and Startups Minister Han Sung-sook as the new prime minister candidate. [Yonhap]

With Ministry of SMEs and Startups Minister Han Sung-sook nominated as the Lee Jae Myung government's second prime minister, concerns have emerged that her confirmation could be delayed if the process becomes entangled in the ruling and opposition parties' standoff over a parliamentary investigation into the ballot shortage incident.

Following President Lee's formal nomination of Han, the presidential office is expected to submit a confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly soon. Han must clear both a National Assembly confirmation hearing and a full plenary vote before she can officially take office.

The confirmation request will include documents setting out the president's rationale for the nomination, along with asset disclosures for the candidate and her family, military service records for Han and her children, and records of any tax delinquency or criminal history.

Under the Personnel Hearing Act, the National Assembly must complete the confirmation hearing within 15 days of receiving the request, and the entire legislative review process must conclude within 20 days. Passage at the plenary session requires a majority of registered Assembly members to be present and a majority of those present to vote in favor.

Prime ministerial confirmation hearings typically see sharp clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over allegations large and small. However, with the Democratic Party of Korea holding a majority of Assembly seats, most observers expect the hearing and plenary confirmation to proceed without major difficulty, barring any unexpected developments.

The ruling and opposition parties traded barbs Sunday over the nomination. Democratic Party floor policy chief Rep. Kim Han-gyu wrote on Facebook that Han is "someone who combines a humble attitude with firm drive," adding, "I sincerely cheer her on and look forward to her playing an even greater role for the Republic of Korea."

People Power Party chief spokesperson Choi Bo-yun said in a statement that she could not help but express "deep concern over whether now is really the time to put a prime ministerial change front and center," arguing that "getting to the truth of the ballot shortage incident must come before any prime minister nomination."


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