[Anchor]

A confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won is currently underway at the National Assembly. However, right from the start, a chaotic battle broke out between ruling and opposition lawmakers, with shouting and informal language exchanged over various allegations surrounding the nominee.

Reporter Kim Jin-u has the details.

[Reporter]

At the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 15th, nominee Kim apologized for various allegations surrounding him through his opening remarks.

[Kim Seung-won / Justice Minister Nominee: While preparing for this hearing, I looked back on the path I have walked and my shortcomings. I am deeply sorry for causing concern to the public due to the suspicions surrounding me.]

From the beginning of the hearing, a ruling party lawmaker defended nominee Kim by refuting the so-called "family cooperative preferential treatment controversy" raised by the opposition, leading to a shouting match among lawmakers from both sides.

[Kim Nam-hee / Democratic Party Lawmaker: Why was this cooperative created in the first place! The parents gathered their intentions like that! I am speaking to the chairperson. Listen to me!]

As People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo played an audio recording of the nominee's spouse regarding the "suspected preferential treatment for the cooperative by Suwon City," fierce remarks poured out, with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Dong-a referring to him as a "devil."

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker: What did you say?!]

[Kim Dong-a / Democratic Party Lawmaker: I said you are a devil!]

Taking the stand to answer, nominee Kim tearfully explained regarding the cooperative suspicions, saying, "We did not gain profits, nor is it a family cooperative."

During the morning main questioning, criticism from the opposition calling it "illegal solicitation" regarding suspicions that nominee Kim solicited approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety clashed with the ruling party's defense countering that it was "a leak of prosecution investigation records."

(Video by: Oh Young-chun, Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by: Jang Hyun-ki)