Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok (far left) converses with Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party (fourth from the left), who is staging a sit-in at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th afternoon. /Courtesy of News1

Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok drew attention by visiting Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, who began a sit-in demanding his resignation from the nomination on the 30th.

Since the 27th, Na has been staging a sit-in protest in the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall, urging the withdrawal of Kim's nomination and calling for the judiciary committee chair position to be given to the opposition party.

Around 2 p.m. that day, Kim passed by the Rotunda Hall and greeted Na, who was in the midst of the sit-in, saying, 'You're not on a hunger strike, are you?' He also shook hands with Na and other lawmakers present, including Park Chung-kwon, Kim Mi-ae, and Kim Min-jeon, saying, 'You've worked hard.'

When Na asked, 'What brings you here?' Kim replied, 'I came to the National Assembly. Keep up the good work.' When Kim then said, 'Don't go on a hunger strike,' Na shot back, 'Why would I go on a hunger strike?'

Kim and Na are classmates from Seoul National University, both graduating in 1982. Na graduated from the law department, while Kim studied sociology.

During the unexpected meeting that day, they briefly exchanged barbs regarding the submission of documents that arose during the confirmation hearing process.

When Na said, 'Please submit the documents,' Kim responded, 'I submitted all the documents, but they didn’t look at them before coming in,' adding, 'If Joo Jin-woo (of the People Power Party) apologizes, I was going to give you all the remaining documents as well.'

To this, Na pointed out, 'You did not submit the gift tax documents.'

Kim said, '(Only the Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers) viewed them, and (the People Power Party) didn’t, so you just took them all.' He then remarked, 'You should have come in (to the hearing),' and added, 'Anyway, you’ve all worked hard,' before leaving.

Earlier, on the 24th and 25th, the ruling and opposition parties conducted a confirmation hearing for Kim. The adoption of the nomination report was also unsuccessful.

The Democratic Party of Korea is reportedly planning to handle the confirmation motion for Kim during the National Assembly's plenary session on July 3.

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