'Kang Shin-cheol and Hong Ji-seon also unfit for office'
People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik on Wednesday criticized justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won over a remark made at his confirmation hearing, saying Kim's claim that he could not evaluate a drug's efficacy because he was a humanities major amounted to "proof of a confession to illegal lobbying."
Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Jeong said the comment was tantamount to admitting that Kim "had pressured the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety simply on the word of an acquaintance he missed so dearly" — a reference to a broker identified only by the surname Yang.
Jeong also directed sharp words at President Lee Jae Myung, warning that if Lee "pushes ahead with appointing Kim Seung-won as justice minister, he will face a public verdict more fearsome than any trial." He added that Lee was scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday, and urged him to show action by withdrawing Kim's nomination rather than "deceiving the public with a hundred flowery words" about dropping charges against him and pursuing constitutional reform to allow consecutive presidential terms.
Turning to Tuesday's confirmation hearing, Jeong said Democratic Party lawmakers had hurled insults at People Power Party members — calling them "demons," "weapons" and "vipers" — but argued the real demons, weapons and vipers were elsewhere. "Administering to humans a drug that killed hamsters is demonic behavior; those who exploited it for stock-price manipulation are the vipers; and nominee Kim, who lobbied to get that drug approved, is the social weapon," he said.
Jeong also took aim at Kim and Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-gyo, chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, for shedding tears during the hearing. "Unable even to make excuses, they traded tears with each other and turned the confirmation hearing into a melodrama," he said.
He declared defense minister nominee Kang Shin-cheol and land minister nominee Hong Ji-seon equally unfit, calling on President Lee to withdraw both nominations and "appoint fresh figures who can boldly renew state affairs."
On Kang, Jeong said the nominee claimed ignorance of his son borrowing 700 million won ($517,000) from an aunt and uncle to purchase a commercial property, then asked sarcastically: "If he doesn't even know that, can he really be aware of and respond to North Korean provocations?" He added that Kang's family had successfully posed as demolition-displaced residents to secure a special pre-sale allocation for an apartment in Seocho, quipping that Kang appeared to be "a soldier who may be poor at maintaining alert but is skilled at disguise."
On Hong, Jeong said the nominee had previously criticized buying homes through loans but had done exactly that herself. "Truly the insufferable double standard befitting a Democratic Party figure," he said. He also raised concerns that Lee Han-ju, a presidential policy adviser and key figure in the Seongnam-Gyeonggi Province network, would effectively control real estate policy, leaving Hong as "little more than an obedient, operational minister who defers entirely to Cheong Wa Dae."
Asked whether the PPP would endorse the confirmation hearing reports for Kim, Kang and Hong, Jeong said he would need to consult with members of the respective hearing committees, but added: "As floor leader, my view is that endorsement is not possible."
mp1256@heraldcorp.com
