'Will have an even greater impact on the already-falling approval rating'

People Power Party lawmaker Seong Il-jong [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Seong Il-jong [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Seong Il-jong said Tuesday that "the public has already rendered its judgment" on the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won.

Appearing on MBC Radio that day, Seong reviewed the controversies surrounding Kim and said "something bigger than the Cho Kuk affair will unfold."

"Conducting clinical trials of a COVID-19 treatment on the public is something that simply should not be done," he said, adding that President Lee Jae Myung's administration would face serious difficulties as a result.

He then predicted that Kim would step down early, saying the nominee "will be a burden on this administration and will have an even greater impact on the approval rating that is already in free fall."

On independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's raising of allegations over a new drug lobbying request, Seong said Han "is not someone to be criticized" and that Han "has no obligation to identify the whistleblower."

However, Seong drew a line at Han joining the confirmation hearing panel as a committee member, calling it "not desirable." "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee seats have already been filled and those members have each done their own preparation," he said. "We should be letting our party's lawmakers shine, but Han is currently outside our party."


mp1256@heraldcorp.com