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Fri, June 9, 2023 | 21:02
-------------------------
PM confirmation looms as toss-up
이완구청문회, 증인·참고인 15명 '전방위 검증'
Posted : 2015-02-11 17:24
Updated : 2015-02-11 20:50
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By Yi Whan-woo

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) showed its intention Wednesday to oppose the confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Lee Wan-koo, while the ruling Saenuri Party was closely following an apparent change for the worse in the public's reaction to a series of revelations about him.

"I once tried to be supportive of Lee, considering two previous nominees stepped aside," NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in said at the National Assembly. "Not anymore."

The Saenuri Party was seeking to vote on the premier nominee today as originally scheduled while the NPAD wants to delay it.

In 2014, President Park Geun-hye's two picks for prime minister — Ahn Dae-hee and Moon Chang-geuk — stepped down from their nominations after being embroiled in a dispute over ethical lapses.

Ahn, a former Supreme Court justice, faced criticism for receiving favors in his post-retirement earnings. Moon, a former newspaper columnist, stepped aside in the wake of controversy over an unpatriotic remark.

Moon said the opposition would decide today whether to endorse Lee

Other NPAD lawmakers, however, demanded his withdrawal.

"The hearing yesterday clearly showed Lee is unqualified to become a prime minster," said Rep. Joo Seung-yong, one of the NPAD's five Supreme Council members.

The two-day hearing lasted through Wednesday. The opposition criticized Lee, Tuesday, for attempting to influence media executives to pressure junior reporters to stop filing negative stories about him.

Also under the microscope was Lee avoiding military service, his speculative real estate deals, receiving favors in getting a job as a university professor and allegedly plagiarizing his doctoral thesis.

"His comment on media censorship was horrifying and reminded me of the dictatorial regimes of the past," Joo said.

Oh Young-sik, another NPAD Supreme Council member, said, "I can't think of any other nominees in the past who were more controversial than him."

Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung rebuffed Moon's remark.

"It's inappropriate to judge whether Lee will receive a National Assembly endorsement based on such a remark, which was solely personal," Kim said.

Rep. Yoo Seong-min echoed a similar view. Yoo was elected as the Saenuri Party's floor leader after Lee resigned on Jan. 25.

"We'll do our best to get a parliamentary endorsement for the time being. We will also seek to persuade the opposition lawmakers," he said.

The Saenuri Party has urged its lawmakers to attend the plenary session, Thursday, when the vote to endorse of Lee will take place.

Endorsement for a prime minister requires a simple majority at the National Assembly.

The Saenuri Party has 158 of 295 seats, while the NPAD has 130.


이완구청문회, 증인·참고인 15명 '전방위 검증'

이완구 국무총리 후보자에 대한 11일 이틀째 국회 인사청문회에서는 전날에 이어 부동산투기 여부와 자금출처 및 재산형성 과정, 병역면제, 언론외압, 동생의 변호사법 위반 등 각종 의혹에 대한 전방위 추궁이 이어졌다.

이 후보자는 대부분의 의혹에 대해 적극 방어하면서도 공직자로서의 처신과 관련해 깊이 반성했다면서 거듭 몸을 낮추는 모습을 보였다. 

◇'깊은 반성, 깨달음' = 이 후보자는 '적어도 공인은 국민의 눈높이에서 처신해야 한다는 것을 청문회 과정에서 뼈저리게 느끼고 있다'고 말했다.

그는 '국민 정서에 맞는 처신이 이 시대 공직자에게 필요한 것이 아닌가 하는 깊은 반성과 깨달음을 갖게 됐다'면서 '청문회 통과 여부를 떠나 허물이 있다면 한 사람의 인간이 범할 수 있는 실수와 착오, 허물이라고 여겨달라'고 호소했다.

◇이 후보자 동생 변호사법 위반 = 새정치연합 김승남 의원은 이 후보자의 충남도지사 시절인 2011년 천안시 아파트 시행사업(청당동 개발사업)과 관련해 사업이 빨리 되도록 도와달라는 부탁과 함께 업체로부터 금품을 수수한 협의로 구속된 이 후보자 동생의 변호사법 위반 사건을 집중 캐물었다. 

김 의원은 '2008년 아파트 사업과 관련, 충남개발공사와 충남 DNC, 롯데건설이 공사시행 약정을 체결할 때 이 후보자가 최종 승인권자가 아니었냐'고 말했다.

개발사업은 좌초돼 충남개발공사 등이 적지 않은 손실을 본 것으로 전해졌다.

그러나 이 후보자는 '부지사 전결사항이었다'면서 '충남개발공사가 아파트 사업에 참여하는 것을 반대했다'고 반박했다.  

이 후보자는 다만 '그렇지만 모든 책임은 지사였던 저에게 있다. 동생이 관여된 것에 대해서는 대단히 죄송하다'고 머리를 숙였다. 

증인들도 '이 후보자가 개별사업에 대해 구체적 말씀을 안했다'(홍인의 전 충남개발공사 사장), '홍인의 당시 충남개발공사 사장이 하나부터 열까지 다했다'(최정현 전 충남도청 공무원), '부지사 전결권이다'(김동완 의원, 당시 충남도청 부지사) 등의 증언을 했다.

◇투기의혹 및 자금출처 = 새정치연합 홍종학 의원은 '이 후보자가 강남에 대형 아파트를 계속 불려갔는데, 자금출처가 명확하지 않다'고 의혹을 제기했다.

홍 의원은 이 후보자가 2002년 한나라당 입당 후 당으로부터 받은 자금을 문제 삼으며 '타워팰리스를 사기 직전'이라면서 '총리가 되려는 분이 당시 부정자금을 받은 것이다. 차떼기 사건에 대해 후보자가 국민에 사과해야 한다'고 주장했다.

이 후보자는 2002년 대선 직전 한나라당에 입당 후 지원금 명목으로 불법자금을 받은 혐의로 기소됐지만 1·2심 재판부는 불법자금이라는 사실을 알고 받았다고 단정하기 어렵다면서 무죄를 선고했다. 

이 후보자는 '1·2심에서 무죄를 선고받은 것을 알고 있느냐'면서 '그렇게 모든 것을 연관시키면 말씀이 너무 지나치신 것'이라고 반박했다. 

이 후보자 측의 분당 땅 투기 의혹과 관련, 당시 함께 토지를 매수했던 증인 강희철씨는 투기의혹과 관련, '거기는 절대 투기를 할 수 없는 곳'이라면서 '투기하기 좋았을 것 같으면 제가 그 땅을 안 팔았을 것'이라며 투기의혹을 적극 부인했다.

◇차남 병역면제 = 이 후보자의 차남 병역면제와 관련해 신승준 전 중앙신체검사소 군의관이 증인으로 나왔다.  

이 후보자의 차남은 2000년 3급 현역 입영대상 판정을 받았지만 3차례의 입영연기를 거치면서 2005년 4급 공익근무요원 판정, 2006년 '불완전성 무릎관절'을 이유로 5급을 받아 병역면제를 받았다. 

신씨는 2005년 이 후보자의 차남이 4급 공익근무요원 판정을 받을 당시 군의관이었던 것으로 전해졌다. 

신씨는 차남의 생활상 불편함 가능성에 대해 '있다'면서 '군대는 못 가도 공익은 가능하다고 판단했다'면서 공익근무요원 판정 배경을 설명했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailyistory@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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