Parties agree to one-day hearing for Cho Kuk
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) agreed Wednesday to hold a National Assembly confirmation hearing for justice minister nominee Cho Kuk, Friday, after weeks of political wrangling.
“There were a lot of differences with the DPK, but we agreed to hold a confirmation hearing for Cho on Sept. 6 to serve our responsibility as lawmakers,” Rep. Na Kyungwon, floor leader of the LKP, told reporters after meeting with Rep. Lee In-young, her DPK counterpart.
The agreement came after the parties failed to hold a confirmation hearing earlier this week as planned, resulting in the beleaguered nominee holding an “unlimited press conference” at the Assembly, Monday, to explain his version of the multitude of corruption allegations against him and his family members. Parties have called for a proper confirmation hearing to review the credentials and background of Cho before he can be appointed as justice minister.
The agreement came one day after Cheong Wa Dae requested the Assembly to deliver a confirmation report on Cho and other nominees by Friday. The presidential office and the ruling DPK have said the press conference “was enough” to relieve the public’s suspicions about Cho, but this was rejected with people saying that such an event could not substitute for an Assembly hearing.
Cheong Wa Dae welcomed the decision for the hearing. “Some people may not have seen the press conference. We expect that new allegations will also be cleared up during the hearing,” presidential senior secretary for public communications Yoon Do-han said during a briefing Wednesday.
President Moon, currently on overseas state visits to three Asian countries, asked for a National Assembly confirmation hearing report by Friday in an apparent move to appoint nominee Cho as minister regardless of whether it approved of the appointment.
Cheong Wa Dae and the DPK have been pushing Cho’s appointment to in their words — keep Moon’s promise to completely reform the prosecution. Opposition parties have been refusing to hold the hearing claiming they need to question Cho’s family members as key witnesses to clear up allegations he faces.
The press conference Cho held to explain his position on the various allegations against him resulted in a strong backlash from the public and opposition for being unilateral and against protocol.
Cho has been embroiled in suspicions he got preferential treatment for his daughter who was admitted to medical school after attending prestigious universities, and that he and his family members were involved in a dubious investments in a private equity fund.