Moon requests confirmation hearing report for Cho
President Moon Jae-in has requested a National Assembly confirmation hearing report by Friday in an apparent move to appoint nominee Cho Kuk as justice minister, according to the presidential office, Tuesday.
The move is seen to reflect Cheong Wa Dae’s intent to complete the appointment before the Chuesok holidays next week despite strong public calls to withdraw the nomination of the embattled former presidential aide over a widening corruption scandal.
“President Moon has asked the Assembly to deliver the report on Cho and Han Sang-hyeok, the nominee for the head of the Korea Communications Commission, and six other nominees subject to an Assembly confirmation hearing by Sept. 6,” presidential senior secretary for public communications Yoon Do-han said during a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae.
“He will decide on the appointment when he returns from his three-nation Southeast Asia tour on Friday.”
Moon, who is on state visits to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, sent the request to the National Assembly to deliver the report through the government’s electric approval system. Any report on a confirmation hearing, however, is non-binding and the President can appoint Cho without the approval of the Assembly.
Cheong Wa Dae is pressing on with the appointment after Cho held a lengthy press conference Monday to explain his position on various allegations against him that have resulted in a strong public backlash against Moon’s trusted aide.
Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the press conference was enough to clear up any suspicions the public had.
“During the unlimited conference, the nominee gave a detailed explanation about the allegations, and showed sincere remorse regarding the disappointment of the people,” DPK floor leader Rep. Lee In-young said during a meeting at the Assembly, Tuesday.
Cho has been embroiled in suspicions that he exercised power for the preferential treatment of his daughter who was successfully admitted to medical school after also gaining admission to prestigious universities earlier. He spent most of the press conference Monday trying to defend himself and was criticized for not providing any clear explanations about the allegations against him and his family members.
The opposition parties said the press conference was not based on law and called for a proper confirmation hearing.
The rival parties had agreed to hold a hearing for Cho on Monday and Tuesday but failed to go ahead following arguments on including his family members as key witnesses. The opposition fiercely criticized Cho, Moon and the DPK for the unprecedented press conference held at the request of the nominee.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said Tuesday “Cho’s oneman show at the National Assembly ignored the law and mocked the people.” Hwang added Moon also ignored the principle of law through Cho’s nomination. “Moon should cancel his nomination,” Hwang said.
Moon has appointed 16 high-level officials without parliamentary confirmation reports.