Ruling and opposition parties clash over allegations surrounding nominee Kim Seung-won on the first day of interpellation to the government

On the 9th, when the first interpellation session on the administration in the National Assembly of this year’s regular session was held, the ruling and opposition parties clashed in the plenary chamber over allegations of solicitation for drug approval and controversy over the leaking of investigative materials surrounding Kim Seungwon, the nominee for Minister of Justice. The Democratic Party of Korea took issue with lawmaker Han Donghoon’s release of related investigative records and transcripts, arguing that the circumstances of the leak of confidential investigative materials and responsibility for it must be identified. The People Power Party, meanwhile, continued its offensive, saying that the allegations against nominee Kim are also linked to stock price manipulation. Prime Minister Han Seongsook said that if investigative materials were leaked to the outside without proper legal procedures, it would be a serious matter, and that she would instruct relevant authorities to verify how the leak occurred and whether it was illegal. On the same day, in the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, no agreement was reached on the list of witnesses and 참고인 due to differences over the selection of witnesses for the confirmation hearing.