Jang: "Focusing on 'oppa' in Criticism of Kim Seungwon Distracts from the Core... We Should Look at the Outcome"

"Kim Seungwon, Minister of Justice Nominee, Should Be Sitting as a Suspect"

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, made indirect remarks targeting independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on the 8th, stating, "Focusing on the fact that Kim Seung-won (Minister of Justice nominee) is an 'oppa' while attacking him could blur the real issues and essence regarding Kim as a candidate."

Appearing on the Pen&Mic TV YouTube channel on the same day, Jang commented on the allegations of lobbying involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. He said, "I believe what matters is not the lobbying itself, but the outcome," and explained, "If you keep sidetracking with private matters, such as whether he is 'oppa' or not, what the relationship is, or how the transcripts were obtained, you lose track of the serious essence of the issue."

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, entered the Handball Stadium at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 8th to inspect the storage area for election-related supplies. On the same day, nine sports associations under the Korea Sports Council entered the Olympic Park Handball Stadium, which was used as a vote-counting center during the June 3 local elections, to retrieve their equipment. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Previously, lawmaker Han raised allegations based on transcripts and various materials, suggesting that Kim, the nominee, was involved in lobbying related to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. According to Han, a broker identified as Yang referred to Kim as 'oppa' while soliciting approval from the ministry. Members of the ruling party have questioned the sources of the evidence presented by Han. It appears Jang's remarks were addressing this context.

At this appearance, Jang criticized Kim for several reasons: acting as a 'shock trooper' to cancel indictments, engaging in illegal activities through improper solicitation, and being a key figure in stock price manipulation related to the case. He went on to emphasize, "Instead of sitting in the candidate’s seat at the confirmation hearing for Minister of Justice, Kim should now be appearing before prosecutors or police as a suspect under investigation," adding, "He is not someone who should be in the candidate's seat for a confirmation hearing."

Jang also fiercely criticized the current cabinet reshuffle, describing it as a "stubborn reshuffle." He said, "The president seems to have no intention of changing the direction of state governance or correcting current misguided policies by listening to public sentiment," and further explained, "This is simply an insistence on pushing forward stubbornly." Regarding the nomination of Kim Seung-won as Minister of Justice, Jang said, "It is an appointment of someone who will erase my own indictments, someone who will clear me of my crimes."

On constitutional amendment discussions, Jang stated, "(Even if President Lee Jae-myung says he will not seek a two-term amendment, it is still hard to believe, but he keeps shifting his position)," and added, "It can be interpreted that he is expressing his intention for essentially pursuing a second term in this manner." Earlier, Jeong Jeom-sik, the floor leader for the People Power Party, made the party's opposition clear during a regular session of the National Assembly, declaring, "There will be no constitutional amendment during this administration."

Meanwhile, on the same morning, Jang changed his plans from heading to the National Assembly and instead visited Olympic Park after learning that the police were attempting to enter. He explained his change in schedule: "Since the police had entered Olympic Park, I thought it was important for me to check on several things, including how the situation was unfolding and whether voting boxes and ballots stored there were being properly preserved."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.