Rival Parties to Discuss Adopting Special Inspector Hearing Report with Both Qualified and Unqualified Opinions

Rival parties have formed a consensus to discuss a plan at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to adopt the confirmation hearing report for Special Inspector nominee Choi Gil-soo by including both qualified and unqualified opinions.

Although the rival parties held a confirmation hearing for the special inspector nominee last month, the adoption of the hearing report has remained stalled for about a month.

Representative Kim Eui-kyeom of the ruling Democratic Party, who serves as the party's executive secretary on the committee, said through his office today that "consultations between the executive secretaries are underway regarding a plan to process the report by stating both qualified and unqualified opinions," adding, "Once discussions are finalized, we will process the progress report even during the parliamentary audit."

Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Kye-won also told reporters following a Supreme Council meeting today, "Won't the appointment process begin once the parliamentary audit is concluded?"

Representative Park Hyoung-soo of the main opposition People Power Party, the committee's opposition executive secretary, also stated via a press notice, "Our party's stance remains consistent that the confirmation report can be adopted with the unqualified opinion included alongside it," adding, "We urge the Democratic Party to move forward with processing the report in accordance with the People Power Party's position that has already been delivered."

He further said, "If the adoption of the hearing report continues to be delayed, it will inevitably invite public suspicion that Cheong Wa Dae is evading the appointment of the special inspector."

However, the rival parties traded blame over who is responsible for the delay in processing the hearing report following the confirmation hearing.

Lawmaker Kim explained, "On the day of the confirmation hearing, I proposed reviewing the adoption of the progress report, but the opposition voiced that it 'would not agree to the adoption,'" adding, "At the plenary meeting on September 21 as well, only the opposition executive secretary attended and made remarks indicating a refusal to cooperate, which resulted in (the report's adoption) being postponed to the next meeting."

In contrast, Lawmaker Park countered, "The explanation in the notice distributed by Representative Kim claiming that 'the People Power Party did not cooperate with the adoption of the progress report' is contrary to the truth," adding, "Even when only Secretary Park attended the September 21 meeting, I clearly conveyed to Secretary Kim that 'if the People Power Party's unqualified opinion is included, the report may be adopted even without People Power Party lawmakers present.'"

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.