People Power Party: Appointing Kim Seung-won Would Spark 'a Second Cho Kuk Crisis'
On September 16, after the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won (the National Assembly procedure for vetting the qualifications and ethics of senior public appointees), the People Power Party (PPP), citing party statements and social media posts, argued the nominee is unfit and warned that pushing through his appointment could escalate into 'a second Cho Kuk crisis.' In a series of statements and SNS posts on the 16th, the PPP called for the withdrawal of Kim's nomination. Choi Su-jin, the party's senior floor spokesperson, criticized in a statement, "Forcing through the appointment of a disqualified nominee is a carbon copy of the 'Cho Kuk crisis,' which defied public sentiment and ultimately brought down the administration itself." Park Hyeong-su, a lawmaker on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee who attended the hearing the previous day, told MBC Radio, "He is clearly unfit. If appointed, this will continue to weigh on President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating."
The opposition's criticism focused on Kim's explanation at the hearing regarding the controversy over manipulated animal experiments at Jenossell, where he said, "I'm from a liberal arts background. I couldn't possibly know about things like the efficacy of treatments." Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk wrote on Facebook, "'I didn't know because I studied liberal arts'? If you didn't know, you shouldn't have made unlawful lobbying requests in the first place." Senior spokesperson Park Chung-kwon said in a statement, "Kim Seung-won's hearing has degenerated into a sudden 'liberal arts shield,' an arrogant cover-up collusion, and a crocodile-tears acrobatics show," adding, "Forcing through an unfit nominee will only invite the administration's ruin." Rep. Kim Hee-jung criticized on social media, "Whether liberal arts or sciences, we all learn ethics at school," and Rep. Lee Jong-wook also quipped on social media, "A liberal arts student who cries easily but can't remember anything."
Rep. Lee Cheol-gyu emphasized on Facebook that major newspaper editorials that day all pointed out that suspicions had not been resolved at the hearing, saying, "This appointment will be a decisive test of whether the Lee Jae-myung government respects 'the people' or prioritizes 'cover-ups.'" Rep. Joo Jin-woo also criticized on Facebook, "The entire nation watched Kim Seung-won stonewalling throughout the hearing, along with the Democratic Party's arrogance. Now the people will answer with Lee Jae-myung's approval rating."
The PPP decided to hold a 'National Report on the Misdeeds of the Lee Jae-myung Administration' on the steps of the National Assembly main building on the 22nd, just before the Chuseok holiday. District party chairs from the metropolitan area, party members, and citizens are expected to attend. At a press briefing that day, PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said, "On the 22nd, we will inform the people of the Lee Jae-myung government's misdeeds and strengthen our resolve to fight," adding, "Regarding additional outdoor protests, we will reach a conclusion after discussing with lawmakers at the party level." Leader Jang Dong-hyuk and the party leadership are exploring options from multiple angles, including filing rally permits in advance so downtown outdoor rallies can be held if necessary.
However, an official from Representative Jang's side drew a line on the possibility of future cooperation with independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon, who had said, "If Kim's appointment is forced through, we must take to the streets," saying, "That won't happen."
