As the confirmation hearings for Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, approach, tensions between the ruling and opposition parties are escalating. The People Power Party, along with the Reform Party and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, are launching a coordinated offensive against the six ministerial nominees. In response, the ruling Democratic Party is countering by filing a complaint against a lawmaker who raised allegations against Kim.
During a Supreme Council meeting on September 7, Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, stated, "This cabinet reshuffle is a declaration of President Lee Jae-myung's abandonment of the people," and called for a complete withdrawal of the reshuffle. Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also mentioned the allegations against Kim, asserting, "The essence of the issue is not whether it was a request or a complaint, but that a lawmaker helped a company conceal the side effects of a drug with just a word, 'oppa.'"
Taking a leading role in the attack against Kim, Han Dong-hoon released text messages related to alleged lobbying for a new drug on his Facebook page. According to the messages, Kang Se-chan, the founder of Genensel, suggested to broker Yang Soo-jin in October 2021, "We need to get the IND approval. Even if it's not a meal, let's meet when the lawmaker has time."
Yang responded, "Tomorrow, Representative Choi will come to our office. Seung-won oppa (referring to Kim) says he has to wait until the National Assembly audit is over, but I will urge Representative Choi," adding, "Representative Song Young-gil is a fox; you have to pay him to get him to move." However, Han did not disclose the identity of the 'Representative Choi' mentioned in the conversation.
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Han emphasized, "I officially request National Assembly Speaker Jeong Seok to approve me as a member of the confirmation hearing committee for Kim. I have much more to say," and added, "If the hearing for Kim is held, please help prevent the first 'convicted Minister of Justice' since the Provisional Government from taking office." Kim has previously been fined 700,000 won for a drunk driving incident.
In response to the opposition's all-out attack, the Democratic Party's spokespersons are actively issuing written briefings. On the previous day, Representative Kim Dong-a filed a complaint against Han and an unnamed informant with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, criticizing Han's earlier release of recordings as "a clear violation of public office secrets, disclosure of criminal facts, and violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and the Public Records Management Act."
Kim also stated, "I take seriously that I should have been more cautious in the process of conveying complaints, but I have never made any improper requests to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," and accused Han of launching a political offensive by leaking investigation materials from his time as Minister of Justice.
Cheon Ha-ram, acting leader and floor leader of the Reform Party, has taken aim at Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense. Following his previous allegations of Kang's fraudulent residence registration and improper housing application, he pointed out that Kang failed to submit documents related to a commercial property owned by his son. Cheon stated, "It is unprecedented to conceal real estate in the official confirmation request during a confirmation hearing. We do not need a Minister of National Defense who intentionally conceals property details."
During a Supreme Council meeting on September 7, Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, stated, "This cabinet reshuffle is a declaration of President Lee Jae-myung's abandonment of the people," and called for a complete withdrawal of the reshuffle. Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also mentioned the allegations against Kim, asserting, "The essence of the issue is not whether it was a request or a complaint, but that a lawmaker helped a company conceal the side effects of a drug with just a word, 'oppa.'"
Taking a leading role in the attack against Kim, Han Dong-hoon released text messages related to alleged lobbying for a new drug on his Facebook page. According to the messages, Kang Se-chan, the founder of Genensel, suggested to broker Yang Soo-jin in October 2021, "We need to get the IND approval. Even if it's not a meal, let's meet when the lawmaker has time."
Yang responded, "Tomorrow, Representative Choi will come to our office. Seung-won oppa (referring to Kim) says he has to wait until the National Assembly audit is over, but I will urge Representative Choi," adding, "Representative Song Young-gil is a fox; you have to pay him to get him to move." However, Han did not disclose the identity of the 'Representative Choi' mentioned in the conversation.
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Han emphasized, "I officially request National Assembly Speaker Jeong Seok to approve me as a member of the confirmation hearing committee for Kim. I have much more to say," and added, "If the hearing for Kim is held, please help prevent the first 'convicted Minister of Justice' since the Provisional Government from taking office." Kim has previously been fined 700,000 won for a drunk driving incident.
In response to the opposition's all-out attack, the Democratic Party's spokespersons are actively issuing written briefings. On the previous day, Representative Kim Dong-a filed a complaint against Han and an unnamed informant with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, criticizing Han's earlier release of recordings as "a clear violation of public office secrets, disclosure of criminal facts, and violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and the Public Records Management Act."
Kim also stated, "I take seriously that I should have been more cautious in the process of conveying complaints, but I have never made any improper requests to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," and accused Han of launching a political offensive by leaking investigation materials from his time as Minister of Justice.
Cheon Ha-ram, acting leader and floor leader of the Reform Party, has taken aim at Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense. Following his previous allegations of Kang's fraudulent residence registration and improper housing application, he pointed out that Kang failed to submit documents related to a commercial property owned by his son. Cheon stated, "It is unprecedented to conceal real estate in the official confirmation request during a confirmation hearing. We do not need a Minister of National Defense who intentionally conceals property details."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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