Lim Lee-ja, People Power Party Chairperson of the National Assembly Planning, Finance and Economy Committee, said on the 16th in connection with the confirmation hearing for Minister of Planning and Budget nominee Lee Hye-hoon, "The nominee is a target for investigation, not vetting." Lim also said the hearing cannot be held if the nominee does not submit the documents requested by the National Assembly.
The chairperson held an emergency briefing at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the same day and said, "The nominee refused the National Assembly's request to submit documents on various suspicions, and now says the nominee will even file a complaint against a lawmaker who raised legitimate issues," adding, "The nominee cannot be recognized as a public office candidate."
Lim added, "This is a grave challenge to the people that cannot be overlooked. The confirmation hearing for this nominee has little value," stressing, "Despite various suspicions, relying only on the backing of President Lee Jae-myung, who ultimately will not withdraw the nomination, they are deceiving the National Assembly."
The chairperson also said, "If even at this point you still think the nominee is such an outstanding talent, then either trample over the National Assembly or carry them in a palanquin," adding, "The result of that choice rests entirely with President Lee. We will wait for the president's answer."
In response to a question that "the Democratic Party of Korea says the schedule cannot be changed because it was approved in the standing committee," Lim said, "Jeong Tae-ho, the Democratic Party lawmaker serving as the ruling party's secretary, guaranteed that the nominee would faithfully submit the documents requested by the National Assembly," adding, "It was a conditional decision that the schedule would be changed if the document submission was not diligent."
According to People Power Party lawmakers on the Planning, Finance and Economy Committee, the nominee submitted 748 of the 2,187 document requests covering a total of 82 institutions, from 53 institutions. However, more than half of those—415—were effectively contentless due to reasons such as lack of consent for personal information, the People Power Party said.
People Power Party lawmakers told reporters the day before, "Out of 2,187, the actual submission rate is only about 15%," adding, "For documents related to suspicions laden with public doubt or those that could be unfavorable, the nominee refused to submit them, citing 'no consent to provide personal information.'"