[Anchor]

The second day of the National Assembly confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook focused on the process of her disposing of multiple properties. The People Power Party raised allegations that the nominee provided preferential treatment by selling an officetel at a bargain price to the owner of a hair salon she frequented, while the Democratic Party countered that the claims were absurd speculation. Amid the partisan clash, the witness stand remained empty, leading to criticism that it was an "empty" hearing.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.

[Reporter]

The second day of the National Assembly confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook.

Lawmakers from the People Power Party questioned the nominee, asking about her relationship with the salon owner and whether it was a case of preferential treatment, noting that she had rented out her officetel in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, at one-third of the market rate and eventually sold it at a bargain price.

[Kim Hee-jung / People Power Party Lawmaker: What kind of acquaintance could it be to provide this level of preferential treatment, which is difficult to give even between siblings? Is it an indirect gift? Is there a reason? I looked into their background and found that she was in charge of the First Lady...]

The questioning suggested a potential quid pro quo, citing the salon owner's media interview in which she stated she had been in charge of Kwon Yang-sook, the wife of former President Roh Moo-hyun. Nominee Han bristled at the claims, calling them excessive and explaining that she had simply lowered the price because the property would not sell.

[Han Seong-sook / Prime Minister Nominee: So, what kind of compensation could I possibly receive from a hair salon owner?]

Democratic Party lawmakers also criticized the People Power Party, asking, "Do we really need to know whose hair the tenant styled?" and adding that "the level of this hearing is embarrassing."

[Lee So-young / Democratic Party Lawmaker: Must we waste this confirmation hearing time with leaps in logic and speculation that even an elementary school student wouldn't make?]

In the Democratic Party, the World Cup soccer matches even became a topic of conversation during the hearing, with one lawmaker making the following remark.

[Park Sun-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker: (Nominee Han) is like Hiddink, which is why our President selected her.]

Following the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister Kim Min-seok in June of last year, the hearing for nominee Han was held without a single witness or reference person due to a failure to reach an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, drawing criticism that sharp verification was absent.

The National Assembly is expected to conclude the confirmation process, including whether to adopt the hearing report, before June 30, followed by a vote on the appointment. Since it passes with a majority of those present, approval is possible with the Democratic Party alone.

Reported by Oh Young-chun and Kim Yong-woo | Video by Kim Jin-won