The ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in a battle over the confirmation hearings for the minister candidates of Lee Jae-myung's government, which will begin on the 14th. Amid ongoing suspicions regarding the minister candidates, the Democratic Party of Korea aims for the appointment of all candidates, while the People Power Party is targeting multiple disqualifications.
According to the political circles on the 13th, the National Assembly will hold confirmation hearings for 16 minister candidates of the Lee Jae-myung government from the 14th to the 18th.
On the 14th, confirmation hearings will be held for Kang Seon-woo, minister candidate for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Bae Gyeong-hun, minister candidate for the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeon Jae-soo, minister candidate for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Jung Dong-young, minister candidate for the Ministry of Unification. On the 15th, confirmation hearings will be held respectively for Kwon Oh-eul, minister candidate for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Han Seong-suk, minister candidate for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Kim Seong-hwan, minister candidate for the Ministry of Environment, Ahn Gyu-baek, minister candidate for the Ministry of National Defense, and Lim Gwang-hyun, candidate for Commissioner of the National Tax Service.
On the 16th, confirmation hearings are scheduled for Jung Sung-ho, minister candidate for the Ministry of Justice, Kim Young-hoon, minister candidate for the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Lee Jin-sook, minister candidate for the Ministry of Education. On the 17th, confirmation hearings will be held for Jo Hyun, minister candidate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Jeong-kwan, minister candidate for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Koo Yoon-cheol, minister candidate for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. On the 18th, confirmation hearings will take place for Yoon Ho-joong, minister candidate for the Ministry of Interior and Safety, and Jeong Eun-kyeong, minister candidate for the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The People Power Party is expected to escalate its offensive during the confirmation hearings for Kang Seon-woo, minister candidate for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Lee Jin-sook, minister candidate for the Ministry of Education. Candidate Kang is facing allegations of bullying by her aides, while candidate Lee is under suspicion of plagiarism in her student's thesis. Additionally, suspicions regarding Jung Dong-young, minister candidate for the Ministry of Unification, for violating the Farmland Act, and Yoon Ho-joong, minister candidate for the Ministry of Interior and Safety, for a past DUI are likely to be highlighted.
The Democratic Party of Korea aims for the 'survival of all' minister candidates, believing that among the currently raised allegations, there are no factors that would significantly influence public opinion. The presidential office is also reported to be forming a task force for the confirmation hearings and preparing a response strategy.
Kang Hoon, head of the presidential office's secretariat, said during a briefing on the 11th, 'It is natural to have an interest in whether the individuals recommended by the presidential office make it to the hearings,' adding, 'We are reviewing various matters regarding the hearing issues and verification while confirming public opinion.'