"Framing Us as Speculators" ... Shouting Erupts Over "No Real-World Experience"

[Anchor]

At the confirmation hearing for Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul, allegations that he used a false address registration to secure a special housing allotment reserved for evicted residents emerged as a heated battleground. When nominee Kang pushed back against an opposition lawmaker, accusing them of "framing us as speculators," shouting matches broke out between the ruling and opposition parties.

Kim Bo-mi reports.

[Reporter]

Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul faces allegations of "false address registration" in the process of receiving a special housing allotment for evicted residents in Cheonwang-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul in 2008 and subsequently acquiring an apartment in Umyeon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul in 2012.

Nominee Kang, who insisted that the apartment acquisition was entirely legitimate, protested to Representative Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party, who spearheaded the allegations.

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister Nominee: "That is how you construct a frame. In terms of market value, it was a loss too difficult to even put into words. You have turned all of us into real estate speculators, haven't you?"]

Shouting also erupted between the rival parties when Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won defended nominee Kang and criticized Representative Chun.

[Park Sun-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "It seems you do not know because you lack real-world experience, so just say, 'This seems to be a case I am not familiar with'!"]

[Chun Ha-ram / Reform Party Lawmaker: "I have had plenty of real-world experience! I demand an apology—is telling a fellow lawmaker that they lack life experience an appropriate thing to say?"]

At the hearing, lawmakers also levied fierce criticism over nominee Kang omitting from materials submitted to the National Assembly the fact that his son had purchased a commercial property in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in June after borrowing roughly 700 million won from his aunt and uncle.

Nominee Kang said he was unaware of his son's property purchase and offered an apology, calling the omission an oversight.

[Sung Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker: "Your son has only about 70 million won in assets, yet he bought a commercial store in Yangji Village for about 700 million won. Were you aware of this?"]

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister Nominee: "As a father, it is difficult to interfere in every detail of the economic life of a 30-year-old son."]

Nominee Kang also responded that to his knowledge, nothing has been decided regarding troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. On the proposed integration of the military academies, he expressed his approval, stating, "I am convinced that we can achieve victory in future warfare through 'integrated education.'"

(Video by Oh Young-chun, Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan, and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Jang Hyun-ki)

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