[Confirmation Hearings Super Week]③Ruling Party Under Pressure, Opposition Gains By Default, Han's Rising Prominence

Assessing Gains and Losses for Ruling and Opposition Parties Through Confirmation Hearings

Ruling Party Struggles to Refresh Momentum Amid Worsening Public Opinion

Han Donghoon Stands Out, While the Opposition Faces Integration Challenges

The National Assembly's confirmation hearings, following the announcement of the second cabinet reshuffle by the Lee Jaemyung administration, are now in their third day. Meanwhile, evaluations are divided regarding the political gains and losses for the ruling and opposition parties. The ruling party has come under greater burden due to the failure to refresh the political atmosphere with the reshuffle, while the opposition has benefited by default but now faces new variables owing to the heightened influence of independent lawmaker Han Donghoon.

On the 15th, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for the Minister of Justice, nominee Seungwon Kim submitted the witness oath and then moved to his seat.

On September 16, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party continued their intense schedule for the hearings, which began on September 14. In the previous day's confirmation hearing for Seungwon Kim, nominee for Minister of Justice, fierce arguments took place over various allegations, with both sides exchanging accusations and maintaining a tense standoff. The tug-of-war continued in the confirmation hearings for the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on that day as well.

Political circles project that these hearings will have clear winners and losers between the parties. Should President Lee Jaemyung push ahead with the appointments despite opposition across broader opposition circles, the ruling party will, on the surface, successfully defend itself as long as there are no additional withdrawals beyond Hyein Yong, the former ministerial nominee for Gender Equality and Family. Appointing nominee Kim, who has been driving for prosecution reform, could also accelerate the completion of this agenda.

However, there remains the possibility of public opinion worsening due to lingering doubts that have yet to be resolved. This makes achieving the reshuffle’s original aim of shifting the national political mood more difficult. There are also concerns about internal resistance related to the prosecution withdrawal controversy. Seongmin Park, CEO of Political Consulting Min, commented, "There was much debate when former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was appointed, but then-President Moon Jae-in went ahead, and that appointment shook the administration. Appointing nominee Kim is likely to intensify the administration's crisis, including damaging approval ratings."

For the People Power Party, the favorable current political climate allows them to intensify their offensive against the administration. One lawmaker from Gyeongbuk region predicted, "If nominee Kim is appointed, the government and ruling party will swiftly process the prosecution withdrawal, which could then spark physical demonstrations by civic groups." The lawmaker also added, "If internal divisions within the Democratic Party deepen over this issue before the general election, it will work in our favor."

However, mounting calls for conservative unity present a source of pressure. There is renewed discussion about allowing a lawmaker, who raised allegations of lobbying related to new drug approvals and increased their presence by criticizing nominee Kim, to rejoin the party. For party leader Donghyeok Jang, who has been publicly at odds with this lawmaker, it is a dilemma he would prefer to avoid. Some observers say that as attention focuses on the independent lawmaker, the People Power Party’s own presence is being diluted.

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