Defense Nominee Kang Shin-chul Faces Clashes over 'Evictee Housing Allocation and Son's Commercial Property'

[Anchor]

A confirmation hearing for Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul is currently underway at the National Assembly. Sharp criticism emerged over the purchase of a 700 million won commercial property by Kang's eldest son, and the nominee apologized, saying it fell short of public expectations.

Reporter Kim Jin-woo reports.

[Reporter]

At the National Assembly this morning (September 16), a confirmation hearing was held for Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul.

From the very beginning of the hearing, the opposition party focused intensely on real estate controversies involving Kang and his family.

Lawmakers scrutinized the circumstances under which Kang's eldest son borrowed funds from his maternal aunt and her husband under a promissory note to buy a commercial property in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, for 700 million won in June.

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

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister Nominee: "As a father, it is difficult to interfere in every aspect of my 30-year-old son's financial life. I sincerely apologize for failing to meet public expectations."]

Kang denied allegations that he had falsely registered his residential address to obtain an apartment in Seocho District, Seoul, through a special housing allocation designated for evicted residents.

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister Nominee: "I first learned of the term 'special allocation for evictees' when Committee Member Chun Ha-ram mentioned it."]

The ruling party questioned Kang, who served as deputy commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command at the time of the illegal December 3 emergency martial law declaration, about his stance on the insurrection.

[Kim Byung-joo / Lawmaker, Democratic Party: "I do not believe you can evade moral or political responsibility. What are your thoughts on this to the public?"]

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister Nominee: "Regarding the military's undermining of the constitutional order, as the highest-ranking officer at that time, I feel a heavy and truly profound sense of responsibility."]

At the confirmation hearing for Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister nominee Hong Ji-seon, held at the same time, sharp exchanges continued over Hong borrowing 170 million won from his mother-in-law while purchasing an apartment in Guro District, Seoul, last year.

Asked about development plans for the returned U.S. military base in Yongsan, Hong replied, "I will review whether there are ways to contribute to housing stability for future generations."

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hui)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.