'Kim Seung-won pick signals push to cancel indictment'

'Yong Hye-in acted like an arrogant politician'

Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party. (Yonhap)
Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party. (Yonhap)

Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party criticized the Lee Jae Myung administration on Friday, saying, "Hearings without witnesses keep going forward."

Speaking on YTN Radio that day, Kwak said, "Confirmation hearings are just being pushed through without resolving any of the allegations the public wants answered." He added, "If the Democratic Party plans to take the same approach with the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, that would amount to running an arrogant hearing."

Regarding the failure to call witnesses at Kim's confirmation hearing, Kwak said, "Allegations have been raised that he is unfit to serve as justice minister." He asked, "If he is confident about those allegations, shouldn't the relevant witnesses be called so the Democratic Party can hear them out as well?"

"Since no proper explanation has been offered and public perception of the nominee would only worsen, they are unilaterally pushing to hold the hearing without witnesses," he added.

Kwak dismissed the Democratic Party's stated reason for not calling witnesses -- the possibility of "political strife" -- as "close to sophistry."

Kwak argued that lawmakers must examine whether Kim will push ahead with canceling the indictment against President Lee Jae Myung. "I see this as a sign that President Lee genuinely intends to push through the cancellation of the indictment in his own case while in office," he said. "An explanation on this point seems to be the most important thing."

He went on to cite "allegations of involvement in the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety illegal lobbying case, and improper personal relationships," stressing, "These raise questions about whether he is qualified to serve as justice minister."

While Kwak spoke positively of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's raising of allegations, he distanced himself from calls for Han to join the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as a hearing member. "Han Dong-hoon is doing a good job raising these issues," Kwak said, "but that is a different matter from him having to reassign himself onto the committee just to attend the hearing as a member."

"The People Power Party has six members on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in total," he added. "There is no need to remove one of them just to bring Han in. Han should simply keep doing his current job well."

Kwak also weighed in on the news conference held by Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in on Thursday, calling it "a press conference that poured fuel on the public's frustration."

"Public opinion holding that Yong's nomination was a mistake stands at nearly 70 percent, while approval is very low," Kwak said. "Most of the public believes Yong lacks the role or the qualifications to serve as minister."

"I thought the press conference would go in the direction of, 'I will resign my Assembly seat and faithfully carry out my duties as minister,'" he said. "Instead, she held a press conference telling the public, 'Your thinking is wrong' -- that is the image of an arrogant politician," Kwak pressed.


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