The ruling and opposition parties are continuing to clash over the selection of witnesses and reference individuals ahead of the personnel hearing for Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok.

On the 18th, the National Assembly Personnel Hearing Special Committee held a full meeting and voted on the implementation plan for the hearing and the request for document submission, but they did not reach an agreement on the request for witnesses and reference individuals.

The ruling and opposition parties plan to continue discussions in the future. If they ultimately fail to agree on the witness list, the hearing for nominee Kim is expected to proceed without witnesses and reference individuals.

On the 18th, a meeting of the Special Committee on the Consent to the Appointment of the Prime Minister is held at the National Assembly, chaired by Chairperson Lee Jong-bae of the People Power Party./Yonhap News

The People Power Party insists that individuals involved in financial transactions, including Mr. Kang Shin-seong, who has been accused of illegal political fund trafficking, must be called as witnesses.

In particular, in relation to the controversy over the source of funds for the son’s study abroad, they argue that additional witnesses may be necessary if family members and related parties do not agree to provide personal information.

People Power Party member Kwak Gyu-taek noted, "I understand that the nominee relied on his former spouse for covering his son’s high expenses for studying abroad and living in the United States," adding that if only the foreign account transaction records are submitted, the request for witnesses could be withdrawn.

In contrast, the Democratic Party of Korea characterized the People Power Party's demand for witnesses as "excessive political offensive" and "an obstruction of state affairs," stating that they cannot accept all the witnesses requested by the People Power Party.

The Democratic Party instead submitted a witness list that includes former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, arguing that inquiries related to the "Dec. 3 emergency martial law" are necessary.

Democratic Party member Chae Hyun-il emphasized, "There has never been a case where family members were requested as witnesses in past hearings," stressing the need to maintain boundaries.

People Power Party secretary Bae Joon-young criticized, "It is a list of witnesses that anyone can see as merely an attempt to divert attention, and it is no different than filling this hearing with a smear campaign against the former government instead of verifying the nominee."

The committee demanded a total of 1,073 documents at the meeting, and the Prime Minister's Office must submit the materials by the 22nd. The personnel hearing is scheduled to be held on the 24th and 25th as planned. The first day will include the nominee's opening remarks and verification of morality and qualifications, while the second day will proceed with questioning, witness and reference individual interrogations, and the nominee's concluding remarks.