The National Assembly Planning, Finance and Economy Committee on the 19th fell into disarray without even starting the confirmation hearing for Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. The People Power Party and the Reform Party declared a boycott of the hearing, citing insufficient submission of materials and remarks about referring a hearing member for investigation. The Democratic Party of Korea said the hearing schedule was set by an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties and called for prompt proceedings.
The committee held a full session at the National Assembly on the morning of the 19th and discussed the confirmation hearing for the nominee. However, as ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed over whether to submit materials and change the schedule, the session recessed at about 11:32 a.m. Lee did not even get to take a seat in the hearing room.
The opposition camp opposed holding the hearing for Lee, citing "poor submission of materials" and "a request to investigate a hearing member." According to the People Power Party, by the 5 p.m. deadline on the 15th Lee had submitted only 15% of the requested materials. Lee also stirred controversy by saying about Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party, who raised suspicions that political fund probes were quashed using a "memorandum," "I would like to request an investigation."
Committee Chairperson Lim Lee-ja said at the full session, "How can a public office nominee say they will accuse the lawmaker conducting the vetting? This is not right," adding, "At the last full session, we resolved that if the submission of materials is not done in good faith, the schedule could be changed. We cannot overlook these matters."
Opposition secretary Park Soo-young of the People Power Party, citing alleged illegal apartment subscriptions and disguised gifts raised against the nominee, said, "Lee, who had been stonewalling, sent some materials only at 9 p.m. yesterday (the 18th), and they are shoddy at best, a mere attempt to save face."
By contrast, Democratic Party members of the committee called for the hearing to proceed swiftly. Park Hong-geun of the Democratic Party protested, saying, "What kind of committee is the chairperson running here? At the last full session, with ruling and opposition lawmakers present, didn't you strike the gavel?"
Ruling party secretary Jeong Tae-ho of the Democratic Party also said, "Even after starting the hearing, the chairperson or People Power Party lawmakers can formally raise the issues they point out," adding, "Talking unilaterally about adjusting the hearing schedule looks like a lack of will to proceed, and it means we are abandoning our duty to vet the nominee on behalf of the public."
The committee will decide whether to hold the hearing through future consultations between the ruling and opposition secretaries. If the hearing is further delayed, Lee will be appointed by a decision of the presidential office. If the National Assembly does not adopt the confirmation hearing report, the president may request its resubmission within 10 days. Even after a resubmission request, if the report is not adopted, the president may push ahead with the appointment.