With the deadline for adopting the National Assembly report on the minister candidates of the Lee Jae-myung government approaching, the ruling and opposition party floor leaders met to discuss the agreement on the confirmation report. However, they only confirmed their differences regarding the controversial minister candidates.
Kim Byeong-ki, the acting leader of the Democratic Party and floor leader, met with Song Eon-seok, the chairperson of the People Power Party's emergency response committee and floor leader, that day to discuss the adoption of the confirmation report.
Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to adopt the confirmation report on Minister of Science and ICT Bae Gyeong-hun and the candidates for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance 구윤철, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jo Hyun, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan. The confirmation report on Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho's candidacy was also adopted under the leadership of the ruling party amid opposition party resistance. However, as the People Power Party pointed out the candidates' lack of qualifications for some ministerial positions, they met to discuss ways to start the dialogue.
However, during the meeting that day, both parties could not narrow their differences regarding the minister candidates.
Floor leader Kim noted, "We confirmed our differences and agreed to continue discussions," adding, "Our opinion remains consistent. There were no particular issues that would disqualify the candidates among the notifications received from each standing committee."
Democratic Party lawmakers from the Gender Equality and Family Committee and Education Committee issued statements that day, urging cooperation for the adoption of the confirmation reports for Kang Sun-woo, the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family who is embroiled in a 'staff abuse controversy', and Lee Jin-sook, the candidate for Minister of Education who is caught up in 'plagiarism and illegal early study abroad' controversies.
Democratic Party lawmakers from the Gender Equality and Family Committee urged, "It is the National Assembly's duty to report the confirmation results as they are to the president," and called for an end to the obstruction of government administration.
Democratic Party lawmakers from the Education Committee stated, "The candidate sincerely and honestly responded to various allegations and controversies raised initially during the confirmation process," adding, "We ask that the candidate be given the opportunity to address education issues."
Floor leader Kim explained, "If the opposition party puts forth reasonable claims, we can sufficiently accept them, but they have not proven anything beyond the allegations raised by the media," and continued, "We have not yet found any circumstances that would overturn the conclusions reached by the standing committee."
In contrast, the opposition party reiterated pressure to disqualify the two controversial candidates.
Floor leader Song said, "The government and the ruling party should make decisions regarding the candidacies in accordance with the confirmation results that align with the expectations of the people," urging the presidential office to make a final decision on the ministerial candidates according to the level desired by the public.
The Democratic Party is determined to adopt the confirmation report on its own even if the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties falls through.
In response to a question asking whether the ruling party would halt the process if the opposition did not agree to the appointments, floor leader Kim said, "That will not happen," adding, "The committee with the authority to adopt will adopt in some way." He continued, "If we cannot adopt because we are not the chairperson of the standing committee, then it must proceed according to the demands of the presidential secretary's office if they request it again."
According to the Confirmation Hearing Law, if the National Assembly exceeds the deadline (within 20 days after receiving the request for confirmation), the president will set a deadline within 10 days for resubmission requests. If the confirmation report is not adopted by the resubmission deadline, the president can appoint the ministerial candidates.