As the National Assembly personnel hearing for Lee Jae-myung's inaugural cabinet officially began, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea presented 'practicality, capability, and performance' as evaluation criteria. The Democratic Party emphasized that 'creating conditions for work is important.'

Representative Acting Chief Kim Byung-ki of the Democratic Party of Korea is making a statement at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th morning. /News1

Kim Byeong-ki, the acting chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea and floor leader, stated during a Supreme Council meeting held in the National Assembly on the 14th that 'the Democratic Party's personnel hearing criteria are practicality, capability, and performance,' adding that 'the political inclination or profession of candidates is not an issue.'

He continued, saying, 'It is important whether candidates have the qualities and capabilities to quickly overcome economic, livelihood, and trade crises and deliver tangible results that the public can feel,' asserting that 'the Democratic Party will thoroughly verify those qualities and capabilities in line with the public's expectations.'

He added, 'We will respond resolutely to outdated, reckless personal attacks and slander designed to hinder governance,' stating that 'the Democratic Party will support the swift completion of the cabinet so that the Lee Jae-myung government can function properly and will underpin national stability.'

Park Sang-hyuk, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also met with reporters after the meeting and said, 'This week, the personnel hearings will be conducted throughout. The party will actively cooperate and support the creation of an initial atmosphere in which the Lee Jae-myung government can work.'

The chief spokesperson emphasized, 'Each ministry has many urgent tasks. Creating the minimum conditions necessary to solve them is what the party needs to do in this hearing,' adding that 'we will respond resolutely to the various false propaganda and obstruction efforts being carried out by the People Power Party.'

However, there are concerns that the exclusion of the moral element, which was a key component of the 'seven personnel verification criteria' during the Moon Jae-in administration (including false residency, draft evasion, illicit asset accumulation, tax evasion, research misconduct, drunk driving, and sexual offense history), signifies a regression in the personnel verification criteria under the Lee Jae-myung government.

In response, the chief spokesperson noted, 'The principles for forming a government cabinet are diverse. (Practicality, capability, and performance) are the most important criteria in the context of a national crisis due to civil unrest, as we are currently experiencing.' He explained that 'now, it is important to create conditions and foundations for work.'

Starting today, the National Assembly is conducting personnel hearings for 16 ministerial candidates and the candidate for Commissioner of the National Tax Service, Im Kwang-hyeon, over the course of five days. Today's hearings will include Bae Gyeong-hun, the candidate for Minister of Science and ICT, Jeong Dong-young, the candidate for Minister of Unification, Jeon Jae-soo, the candidate for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and Kang Seon-woo, the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.