Kim Min-seok, “Kim Ji-yong, no more will be said within the party… Now it’s time for the hearing.”

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 7th regarding Kim Ji-yong, a candidate for the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, whose appointment some hardliners in the ruling party are openly opposing, saying, "Now the time for diverse opinions has passed, and the time has come for a personnel hearing for the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency."

At the Supreme Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on this day, Representative Kim said, "I will convey various opinions to the personnel hearing members so that the personnel hearing can be conducted smoothly, and the party will do its best to conduct the personnel hearing."

He requested, “I hope that Candidate Kim will also prepare to explain various questions in detail and sincerely.”

Representative Kim also said on the Democratic Party's YouTube channel just before the highest ranking, "I said yesterday that it is time for the party to take control of this issue," and "I understand that they will not say more about the issue since they have already expressed their opinions sufficiently."

After undergoing additional verification due to opposition from hard-liners on prosecution reform across the ruling party, the Blue House submitted Candidate Kim's confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly on the 2nd, about 20 days after it was recommended by Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung.

The Democratic Party plans to hold a confirmation hearing for candidate Kim on the 14th.

Meanwhile, regarding the North Korean landmine explosion that occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Representative Kim emphasized, "For the first time in history, the military removed a North Korean landmine buried in the DMZ area by detonating it," and added, "We will continue to make every effort to ensure security by strengthening our alert posture and demanding an apology from North Korea."

Toward the People Power Party, he pointed out, "I think it is right to exercise the golden rule of not lowering the morale of the military, which is correcting problems and strengthening security, by making irresponsible remarks and stopping political strife that incites unnecessary confusion."