President Lee to Hold Press Conference Today, Addressing Key Pending Issues

[Anchor]

With Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won expected to take steps toward appointment soon, President Lee Jae-myung will hold a press conference today (September 18). He is expected to personally state his stance on pressing issues cited as reasons for his declining approval ratings, including major matters such as a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive presidential terms and the dropping of indictments.

Reporter Park Ye-rin reports.

[Reporter]

As the National Assembly adopted the confirmation hearing report for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, Cheong Wa Dae is leaning toward the expectation that President Lee Jae-myung will appoint him.

A Cheong Wa Dae official told SBS, "The adoption of the confirmation hearing report was entirely the National Assembly's judgment," while adding, "We view that suspicions surrounding nominee Kim were explained to a certain extent during the hearing process."

Although the hearing report was approved solely by the ruling party, this decision appears to consider 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 head the inaugural Major Crimes Investigation Agency whose appointment is opposed by prosecution reform hardliners within the pan-ruling camp, Cheong Wa Dae has undertaken "additional vetting," but President Lee is reportedly set to send a formal confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly soon.

This is seen as a judgment that recommending another candidate would be difficult, with the agency scheduled to launch on October 2.

However, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae fiercely attacked nominee Kim yesterday (September 17), labeling him "a minion of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min demanded that the nomination be withdrawn.

During his press conference to the public this morning, President Lee Jae-myung is expected to address controversies surrounding the cabinet reshuffle, including the voluntary withdrawal of Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

Following the recent resignation of former Cheong Wa Dae chief presidential secretary for policy Kim Yong-beom, Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik is also known to be considering his position, drawing attention to whether the president will announce plans to restructure Cheong Wa Dae.

President Lee is also likely to clarify his position on controversies surrounding the withdrawal of indictments and the constitutional revision for consecutive terms, while the troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and investment in the United States are also expected to serve as key topics during today's press conference.

(Video: Jeong Sang-bo, Ha Ryung / Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee / Design: Lee Jong-jeong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.