Han Byeong-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party on September 15 for focusing on insulting Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, ahead of his confirmation hearing. He stated, "They are preoccupied with making provocative remarks that are unrelated to the essence of the matter, and the real target is not Kim Seung-won himself but the reform of the criminal justice system."
During a policy meeting at the National Assembly, Han emphasized that all three candidates appearing at the hearing today have proven their expertise and capabilities in their respective fields.
He described the confirmation hearing as an opportunity to thoroughly verify the policy capabilities and execution skills of the leaders who will guide each ministry, introducing Kim as someone who possesses both practical experience in the legal field and legislative reform experience, capable of leading the new criminal justice system stably.
Regarding Lee Hyung-il, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Han noted, "He has been recognized for his abilities across both progressive and conservative administrations and is a seasoned economic bureaucrat who is well-suited to lead South Korea's macroeconomy stably." He also praised Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, stating, "With her ability to handle budgets and policies, she will closely examine the challenges faced by small businesses, micro-enterprises, and startups to create clear solutions."
Han asserted, "We will verify the candidates' capabilities based on unwavering principles and will firmly confront malicious political attacks to ensure the hearing is evaluated on merit and policy."
Meanwhile, Han pressed Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to clarify his stance regarding the vacancies in the Supreme Court. He pointed out, "It has been over two weeks since President Lee Jae-myung requested the re-nomination of Supreme Court candidates, yet Chief Justice Cho remains silent and unresponsive." He highlighted that on September 11, the Blue House emphasized the public's right to a fair trial and requested a prompt re-nomination, but no specific position or timeline has been provided.
Han added, "In the meantime, two Supreme Court positions have become vacant, raising concerns about disruptions in the operation of the small court and the plenary session. There are already candidates who have been recommended through proper procedures. If new candidates are nominated from among them, the vacancies can be filled. I urge you to promptly clarify your position and timeline."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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