"Joo Jinwoo, Devil" vs "What Did You Just Say"... Kim Seungwon Confirmation Hearing Begins with Shouting

Issues Raised: Spouse's Cooperative, New Drug Lobbying, and Drunk Driving
People Power Party Also Questions Document Submission

The confirmation hearing for Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, was filled with shouting and harsh language from both ruling and opposition lawmakers right from the start.

During the confirmation hearing for Kim held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly on the 15th, Assemblywoman Namhee Kim of the Democratic Party countered the People Power Party in her procedural speech regarding the "preferential treatment allegations involving the family foundation." She criticized the use of hate speech such as "tapped into taxpayers' money," "grew fat on public taxes," and "family salary party," arguing that these phrases distorted the case as if the organization were illegal.

Previously, Joo Jinwoo, an Assemblyman of the People Power Party, raised suspicions of preferential treatment, alleging that the Korea Child Development Social Cooperative—where Kim's spouse works—received favorable treatment from Suwon City when being selected as a government voucher project provider.

Assemblyman Joo immediately stated that he had released an audio recording suggesting the cooperative received convenience from Suwon City, adding, "At Olive School, the school where Kim's spouse is the principal, benefits were concentrated on just 20 students." He further argued, "40% of the money that should have gone to children with developmental disabilities went to Kim's family, so what justification is there for all this defense?"

Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, is drinking water while attending the confirmation hearing for the Minister of Justice held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

During this exchange, there were approximately five minutes of loud shouting and offensive remarks. Members of the Democratic Party, including Assemblywoman Dongah Kim, called Assemblyman Joo a "devil" and "repulsive," to which Joo responded angrily, "What did you just call me?"

As the meeting grew more chaotic, the committee chair—Democratic Party Assemblywoman Youngkyou Seo—stepped in to mediate, saying, "That's enough," and, "I will suspend your right to speak." She urged calm by saying, "The public will judge for themselves."

Before the main hearing began, the People Power Party also raised issues regarding Kim's submission of materials. Park Hyeongsoo, the opposition secretary of the committee and Assemblyman from the People Power Party, stated, "The Democratic Party is planning a toothless hearing devoid of any witnesses, and the nominee is set on a hollow hearing by refusing to submit the required documents." He argued that, out of 376 requested documents, 243 were not submitted—equivalent to 64.6%.

Assemblyman Park also noted that, during a previous confirmation hearing for Prosecutor General nominee Sim Ujeong, Kim had criticized issues with material submission—stating it was "undermining the very purpose of the confirmation hearing law"—and pointed out, "What greater hypocrisy could there be than this 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude?"

Meanwhile, at the hearing that day, allegations of Kim's involvement in "new drug lobbying" and a prior conviction for DUI and fine were also brought up as major issues.

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