Personnel Reshuffle and Constitutional Amendment Spark Fierce Clash on Day 1 of Assembly Interpellation

[Anchor]

The ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on right from the first day of the National Assembly's interpellation session. While the opposition party defined the cabinet reshuffle as a "personnel disaster" and the ruling party demanded an end to political offensives, a heated debate also erupted over the issue of constitutional amendment, accompanied by shouting and informal language.

This is a report by Park Chan-beom.

[Reporter]

During the political affairs interpellation session at the National Assembly on the afternoon of September 9,

Lawmakers from the People Power Party sharply criticized nominees such as Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Yong Hye-in as a "personnel disaster," to which Prime Minister Han Sung-sook responded, "I recommended them because I believe they are capable individuals."

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

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

[Yoon Jae-ok / People Power Party Lawmaker: There are criticisms circulating that this is a 'Myeong-sim cabinet' that only serves the president's will.]

Lawmakers from the Democratic Party urged an investigation, claiming that internal prosecution documents related to the "Ministry of Food and Drug Safety solicitation allegations" 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 fact-checking.]

Prime Minister Han Sung-sook remarked that she agrees with the ruling bloc's argument that constitutional amendments are necessary during the current administration, including the inclusion of the May 18 democratization movement spirit in the preamble of the Constitution.

[Lee Hae-sik / Democratic Party Lawmaker: I believe it is necessary to first process a constitutional amendment at the minimum level achievable through national consensus. What are your thoughts, Prime Minister?]

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

The People Power Party argued that President Lee Jae-myung should 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 expressed sentiments to that same effect on multiple 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! Have some manners!]

[Kwak Kyu-taek / People Power Party Lawmaker: Be quiet!]

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

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan, Video Edited by Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.