▲ Hong Ji-seon, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (left), and Kang Shin-chul, nominee for Minister of National Defense
The National Assembly is holding confirmation hearings today (September 16) for the nominees for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Minister of National Defense, who are part of the Lee Jae-myung administration's second cabinet reshuffle.
Following yesterday's hearings for Lee Hyoung-il, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance and Economy; Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice; and Lee So-young, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, the ruling and opposition parties are continuing hearings on this day for Hong Ji-seon, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Kang Shin-chul, nominee for Minister of National Defense.
The ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in a fierce battle as they scrutinize various allegations surrounding the two nominees and test their policy expertise.
In particular, as controversies have emerged regarding real estate owned by both nominees, intensive vetting is expected over the sources of their funds and the acquisition processes of their properties.
During his past tenure as Director General of the Urban and Housing Office of Gyeonggi Province, Hong advocated for introducing "basic housing" instead of purchasing homes through excessive loans or gap investment; however, he is expected to face focused questioning regarding the background of his purchases and funding sources, as he himself has been embroiled in controversy over stretching his finances to the limit to buy an apartment in Seoul using loans from financial institutions and his mother-in-law, along with moving five times between jeonse rental leases.
Along with this, his ability to execute housing policies as Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, including stabilizing Seoul housing prices and expanding housing supply, is also a major focus of evaluation.
For Kang, real estate issues are also set to come under heavy scrutiny, including allegations that he and his family improperly benefited from a special housing supply program for displaced residents, as well as suspicions of omitting property reporting in connection with his eldest son's purchase of commercial property valued at around 700 million won.
In addition, key defense issues such as troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, the integration of service academies, and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) are anticipated to be addressed as major points of contention.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.