(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jeong-hyeon = After the confirmation hearing for Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won ended on the 16th, the People Power Party continued its offensive, demanding that the nomination be withdrawn even now, saying, "Of course, he is unqualified" and "If the appointment is pushed forward, it will be a turning point in the downfall of the regime."
The People Power Party decided to hold a 'public reporting meeting' on the steps in front of the main building of the National Assembly on the 22nd, just before the Chuseok holiday, to comprehensively cover the misdeeds of the Lee Jae-myung administration. It is also open to a plan to hold an 'off-site rally' if necessary after checking public sentiment during the Chuseok holiday.
In a commentary, senior floor spokesperson Choi Soo-jin criticized, "The attempt to appoint a disqualified candidate after public judgment is a replica of the 'Cho Kuk Incident', which brought about the downfall of the regime after going against public opinion," and criticized, "If the appointment is forced, it will be impossible to avoid the public resistance and regime fall that a second Cho Kuk incident will bring about."
Representative Park Hyeong-soo, secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, who participated in the hearing the previous day, said on MBC radio, "Of course, he is ineligible. This will continue to have an impact on the decline in President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating when appointed." Regarding candidate Kim's statement that he was opposed to giving the special prosecutor the right to cancel indictments on fabricated indictments, he said, "I am opposed to doing it through a special prosecutor, but it seems to mean that the prosecution can consider canceling the indictment."
Third-term lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu emphasized on Facebook that all the editorials in major newspapers that day pointed out that suspicions were not resolved during Candidate Kim's hearing, and pressed, "This appointment will be a decisive test to determine whether the Lee Jae-myung administration respects 'the people' or prioritizes 'bulletproof.'"
Rep. Joo Jin-woo, a member of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee, criticized on Facebook, "The entire nation watched the arrogant attitude of Kim Seung-won and the Democratic Party who were only watering their heads throughout the hearing. Now, the people will respond with Lee Jae-myung's approval rating."
The People Power Party also fired crossfire over Candidate Kim's explanation at the previous day's hearing, when the controversy over Genencell's animal testing manipulation, which was suspected of soliciting approval for clinical trials of new drugs, was pointed out, saying, "I am a liberal arts major. I cannot know the performance of treatments or anything like that."
CEO Jang Dong-hyuk said on Facebook, "'I didn't know because I was a liberal arts major'? If I didn't know, I shouldn't have made the illegal solicitation."
Chief Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon said in a commentary, "Kim Seung-won's hearing has degenerated into an unexpected 'door and shield', arrogant Bulletproof collaboration, and crocodile tears."
Third-term lawmaker Kim Hee-jung pointed out on Facebook, "Whether we study liberal arts or science, we learn morals in school," and lawmaker Lee Jong-wook also wrote, "I'm a liberal arts student who often cries, but doesn't remember much."
On the 22nd, the People Power Party leadership plans to hold a 'National Reporting Conference' on the steps in front of the main building of the National Assembly, with the participation of the party chairman, party members and the public from the metropolitan area, covering the Lee Jae-myung administration's misfortunes in various areas, such as the abolition of the right to supplementary investigation, the merger and abolition of the three military academies, the nationwide farmland survey, soaring real estate prices, and stock market instability.
A key member of the leadership met with reporters and said, "We chose the 'public report contest' format to focus on calmly delivering the message," and added, "We will listen to public sentiment during Chuseok and decide whether to launch an off-site struggle in earnest considering the National Assembly schedule, including the National Assembly audit."
Floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik also said at a press conference on the same day, "The 22nd will be an opportunity to inform the public of the Lee Jae-myung administration's reality and pledge our will to fight," and added, "We will reach a conclusion on the issue of additional off-campus struggle after discussing it with lawmakers at the party level."
It is known that leadership Jang Dong-hyuk is considering ways to protest outside the city from various angles, such as reporting the rally in advance so that it can be held in the city center if necessary.
Meanwhile, Representative Jang's side drew a line at the possibility of a future solidarity struggle with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who said, "I think we should take to the streets if candidate Kim's appointment is enforced," saying, "That will not happen."
