Rival Parties Clash Over Personnel Appointments and Constitutional Amendment on First Day of Interpellation

[Anchor]

The ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on from the very first day of the National Assembly's interpellation session. As the opposition criticized the cabinet reshuffle as a "personnel disaster" and the ruling party demanded an end to political offensives, a fierce battle also ensued over the issue of constitutional amendment, accompanied by shouting and even informal language.

Here is a report by Park Chan-beom.

[Reporter]

During today's (September 9) afternoon interpellation session on political affairs at the National Assembly,

Lawmakers of the People Power Party sharply criticized ministerial nominees such as Kim Seung-won for the Ministry of Justice and Yong Hye-in for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a "personnel disaster," while Prime Minister Han Sung-sook responded, "I nominated them because I believe they are competent individuals."

[Yoon Jae-ok / People Power Party Lawmaker: Do you think this was a successful cabinet reshuffle?]

[Han Sung-sook / Prime Minister: I believe procedures that meet the public's expectations are necessary through confirmation hearings.]

[Yoon Jae-ok / People Power Party Lawmaker: There are public criticisms that this is a 'Myung-sim cabinet' that only serves the President's wishes.]

Lawmakers of the Democratic Party urged an investigation, claiming that internal prosecution documents related to the "allegations of lobbying involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety" had been leaked.

[Jeon Yong-ki / Democratic Party Lawmaker: (The Ministry of Justice) must inspect whether the materials were taken out and request an investigation.]

[Lee Jin-su / Vice Minister of Justice: Prime Minister (Han Sung-sook) stated that she will review and order internal inspections and verification of the facts.]

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook mentioned that she agrees with the ruling camp's argument that constitutional amendments are necessary during the current administration, such as including the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble of the Constitution.

[Lee Hae-shik / Democratic Party Lawmaker: I believe it is necessary to prioritize processing the minimum level of constitutional amendment that can achieve public consensus. What are your thoughts, Prime Minister?]

[Han Sung-sook / Prime Minister: I completely agree.]

The People Power Party argued that President Lee Jae-myung must explicitly declare that he will not seek consecutive terms.

[Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Lawmaker: The President just needs to say five words: 'I will not seek consecutive terms.' Go ahead and suggest that to him.]

[Han Sung-sook / Prime Minister: I believe he has made remarks to that effect on several occasions.]

Amid questions and answers regarding real estate policies and other issues, shouting and informal language erupted.

[Cho Gye-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker: Are you speaking informally! You have no manners!]

[Kwak Kyu-taek / People Power Party Lawmaker: Quiet down!]

Regarding criticisms that President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings have recently been declining, Prime Minister Han stated, "We are listening gravely to the voices of the public."

(Camera: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing: Park Sun-su)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.