Ruling, opposition parties split over Yong Hye-in hearing schedule
Kim Seung-won, embroiled in 'new drug lobbying' claims, faces hearing Sept. 15
Appointment decisions to hinge on hearings, with public opinion a key variable
The People Power Party is gearing up for an all-out offensive ahead of confirmation hearings for the second Cabinet reshuffle of the Lee Jae Myung administration. As the ruling and opposition parties spar over the hearing schedule for Yong Hye-in, the nominee for minister of gender equality and family, disputes over Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister, are also intensifying. The People Power Party plans to scrutinize the various allegations against the nominees and ramp up pressure for their resignations.
According to political circles Wednesday, People Power Party lawmakers on the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee held a meeting Tuesday to prepare for Yong's confirmation hearing. One committee lawmaker said, "If Yong has a conscience, she should resign quickly," but added, "Since there is still time, we also need to prepare well for the hearing."
The ruling and opposition parties are at odds over the timing of the hearing. The Democratic Party of Korea is demanding it be held before Sept. 18, while the People Power Party insists on Sept. 21, one day before the statutory deadline for holding confirmation hearings. The People Power Party says that because the Gender Equality and Family Committee is a concurrent standing committee, its schedule must be coordinated with those of other standing committees. Observers say the party also wants to secure as much time as possible to vet the nominee, given the array of controversies surrounding her.
Yong has not given specific answers to the allegations against her. Arriving Wednesday morning at the confirmation hearing preparation office in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, she was asked by reporters about the controversy over simultaneously holding a ministerial post and a National Assembly seat, allegations that her family runs a "family party," and allegations of falsely registering local party offices. She said only, "I will explain in detail at the confirmation hearing."
The confirmation hearing for Kim, who is embroiled in the "new drug lobbying" allegations, is scheduled for Sept. 15. The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday during a plenary session to adopt a plan to proceed with Kim's confirmation hearing.
Disputes between the ruling and opposition parties over Kim also continued. Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the People Power Party, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly Wednesday and alleged that Kim's spouse ran an illegal educational facility and used it during the 2020 general election. Rep. Kim Min-jeon called for Kim's resignation, saying, "Kim has previously stressed at past confirmation hearings that not only the nominee but also their spouse and family are important areas of scrutiny."
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon has also been pressing daily on the "new drug lobbying" allegations against Kim. On Facebook Wednesday, Han said, "I will take criminal action against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok for spreading false information," adding, "I have never received anything resembling data from prosecutors, so I will hold Kim Min-seok strictly accountable for his baseless lies." The remarks came after the Democratic Party questioned the source of material Han had disclosed, prompting Han to signal legal action.
The Democratic Party has moved to defend Kim, even assigning dedicated staff to counter Han's offensive. Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said Tuesday on the party's YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV, "Our party has designated four people to handle Rep. Han," naming Legislation and Judiciary Committee member Kim Dong-a, spokesperson Cho Gye-won, and Supreme Council members Han Min-soo and Jeon Yong-gi.
Rep. Kim Dong-a pushed back on MBC Radio Wednesday, saying, "Rep. Han is disclosing only information favorable to himself without guaranteeing the suspect's right to defense at all, just as special investigation prosecutors or politically motivated prosecutors do during warrant review." He added that "claiming there is a major scandal based on fragmentary evidence is no more than a political offensive."
Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding the nominees, Cheong Wa Dae says it will first watch how the National Assembly's confirmation hearings play out. With President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating recently trending downward, some in political circles predict that public opinion after the hearings could factor into the final appointment decisions. Lee previously withdrew the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon as minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget after allegations of real estate speculation and gapjil ("abuse of power by those in authority") surfaced and she went through a National Assembly confirmation hearing.
mp1256@heraldcorp.com
