During the confirmation hearing for Minister of Employment and Labor nominee Kim Young-hoon held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th, questions from members of Parliament regarding Kim's "view on North Korea" poured in.
In response to a question from People Power Party member Woo Jae-jun asking why he applied to visit North Korea at the time when he was the chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in 2011 to pay respects to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim explained, "I judged that it would help ease tensions in inter-Korean relations."
One year earlier, in 2010, Woo asked whose responsibility the Cheonan sinking incident was, and Kim responded, "I trust the government's announcement that it was the doing of North Korea." Woo then questioned, "Is it appropriate to visit the funeral of Kim Jong-il just a year after North Korea's actions?" Kim replied, "I judged that it would be helpful to go, even at the civilian level, because the government could not." When asked if he had ever paid respects to the soldiers who were sacrificed in the Yeonpyeong Island battle caused by North Korea, he answered, "No," adding, "If I become a member of the State Council, I will commemorate the sacrifices of the soldiers."
Questions continued regarding Kim's view on North Korea. People Power Party member Song Eon-seok asked, "Is Kim Jong-un a great leader?" and "What do you think about North Korea's nuclear possession?" Kim responded, "I have never thought of him as a great leader" and "I oppose North Korea's nuclear development."
People Power Party member Jo Ji-yeon asked, "Who is the main adversary of South Korea?" When Kim answered, "All forces that put South Korea in danger," Jo followed up, asking, "Does that include North Korea?" Kim replied, "I agree with the statement of the Minister of Unification nominee that North Korea is not the main adversary and also with the statement of the Minister of National Defense nominee that the North Korean military and regime are the main adversaries."
As these remarks continued, a dispute arose between the ruling and opposition parties. Members of the People Power Party stated, "We believe that a view on North Korea is important for a member of the State Council," and requested a recess until the nominee's thoughts were organized. The Democratic Party of Korea responded, saying, "We think considering North Korea as the main adversary is political," and questioned, "Why should we discuss that the nominee lacks the qualifications to be the Minister of Employment and Labor because we believe North Korea is not the main adversary?" Progressive Party member Jeong Hye-kyung stated, "The People Power Party is pouring cold water on the outdated anti-North Korea narrative."
After the back-and-forth, members of the People Power Party collectively left the venue. Subsequently, members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee held a press conference, stating, "An absurd situation arose where the nominee could not clarify his stance on the main adversary that threatens South Korea and its people," and urged him to clearly state his position on who the main adversary of South Korea is before the afternoon continuation of the confirmation hearing.