[Anchor]
The mood inside the Blue House suggests President Lee Jae-myung will soon appoint Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won to the post. President Lee is also expected to address the controversies surrounding the cabinet reshuffle at a press conference today (September 18).
Park Yerim reports.
[Reporter]
Following the National Assembly's adoption of the confirmation hearing report for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, the Blue House is leaning heavily toward the view that President Lee Jae-myung will proceed with Kim's appointment.
A Blue House official told SBS, "The adoption of the hearing report was entirely the National Assembly's decision," adding, "We believe the allegations against nominee Kim were clarified to a certain extent during the hearing process."
Although the report was approved solely by the ruling party, this appears to take into account that the likelihood of the People Power Party agreeing to adopt the report was low from the beginning.
Regarding Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to be the inaugural head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency whose appointment is opposed by hardliners for prosecution reform within the pan-ruling bloc, President Lee is reportedly set to submit the confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly soon, even as the Blue House has initiated "additional vetting."
This is seen as reflecting the judgment that re-nominating another candidate would be unfeasible, given that the agency is scheduled to launch on October 2.
However, Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae launched a fierce attack on nominee Kim yesterday (September 17), labeling him a "henchman of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," while Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min demanded the withdrawal of the nomination.
President Lee Jae-myung is expected to address the controversy over the cabinet reshuffle, including the voluntary withdrawal of Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in, during an address to the nation and press conference this morning.
With Blue House Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik reportedly pondering his future following the recent resignation of former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, attention is also focused on whether the president will announce plans for a Blue House reorganization.
President Lee may also take a clear stance on the controversies regarding the dismissal of indictments and a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive presidential terms, while the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz and investments in the United States are also expected to be key topics at today's press conference.
(Camera: Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryoong | Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee | Design: Lee Jong-jeong)
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