“Tears Cannot Erase the Allegations”... People Power Party Launches Fierce Attack on Kim Seung-won’s “Melodramatic Hearing”

[Financial News] The People Power Party is continuing its campaign to force the withdrawal of Kim Seung-won’s nomination for Minister of Justice. Although the confirmation hearing has ended, the party says allegations involving a request for approval of a new-drug clinical trial and controversies related to Kim’s family remain unresolved. It has repeatedly pressured Kim to withdraw his nomination or resign voluntarily, while raising the possibility of protests outside the National Assembly if his appointment is pushed through.
Kim Tae-gyu, the People Power Party’s senior floor spokesperson, criticized Kim’s confirmation hearing in a statement on the 17th, calling it “a melodrama staged by the Democratic Party of Korea rather than a venue for verification.”
Kim Tae-gyu claimed, “The opposition’s legitimate questions were met with shouting and sarcasm, and they did not hesitate to launch crude personal attacks against fellow lawmakers, calling them ‘devils’ and saying that their ‘faces were weapons.’ By contrast, they were preoccupied with shielding Kim Seung-won and helping him provide explanations.” In fact, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties clashed during the hearing on the 15th, trading expressions such as “devil,” “weapon,” and “viper.”
In particular, Kim Tae-gyu targeted Seo Young-kyo, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, for shedding tears alongside Kim Seung-won after the nominee became emotional while explaining allegations involving his family. He argued, “The moment the chair, whose duty was to rigorously examine the allegations and lead the meeting fairly, became emotionally invested with the nominee, the hearing’s fairness and authority collapsed as well.”
He continued, “Tears cannot erase the allegations,” and raised allegations that Kim had solicited approval for a GENENCELL clinical trial, controversies involving a social cooperative operated by his family, and allegations of a payback involving the Gyeonggi Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea. At the hearing, Kim explained that his request concerning the new drug had been an effort to convey a civil complaint, and denied allegations involving the social cooperative where his family members had worked, saying he had not used it for improper financial gain.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, also described the previous day’s hearing as “a low-grade melodrama by a ‘third-rate actor,’” claiming that it “only reconfirmed that he is someone who must never be appointed.” Criticizing Kim’s tears over allegations involving his family, Jang said, “He could not provide an explanation and only shed tears. Democratic Party lawmakers even applauded him.”
Even before the hearing, the People Power Party had concentrated its attacks on the allegations surrounding approval of the new-drug clinical trial. On the 14th, lawmaker Na Kyung-won told Kim, “If you knew all of this, you are an accomplice to fraud and stock manipulation; if you did not know and were deceived by ‘Oppa,’ then aren’t you a fool?” She added, “Whichever way you look at it, he is unqualified, and resignation is the answer.”
The People Power Party plans to continue its offensive after the hearing if Kim Seung-won’s appointment is pushed through. Jang Dong-hyuk raised possible responses, including protests outside the National Assembly, while voices within the party have called for continuing the public-opinion campaign by repeatedly raising allegations involving Kim.
Kim Tae-gyu urged, “The position of Minister of Justice is not one that relies on sympathy; it is a position in which one must prove the qualifications to enforce the law and principles. He should no longer hide behind the Democratic Party of Korea’s protective shield and must resign immediately.”

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter