Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
PM nominee grilled over finances in confirmation hearing
Kim Min-seok, President Lee Jae Myung's pick for prime minister, speaks during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Kim Min-seok dismisses ‘anti-American’ label during hours of contentious questioning
Kim Min-seok, President Lee Jae Myung’s nominee for prime minister, faced intense scrutiny Tuesday over his personal finances and qualifications during a combative confirmation hearing.
Opposition lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP) pressed Kim to account for how he spent at least 1.3 billion won ($952,000) over the past five years, despite earning just over 100 million won annually as a lawmaker.
“That gap is too big in the eyes of the public, which has led to the question over where the rest of the money came from,” Rep. Joo Jin-woo said at the National Assembly.
Kim, 61, attributed the additional income to gifts from friends and relatives for his 2019 remarriage, condolence money following his father-in-law’s death in 2020, proceeds from book publication events in 2022 and 2023 and financial support from his mother.
Under current law, funds raised through book events are not considered political donations and therefore do not need to be reported to the National Election Commission.
“One more thing: The sums collected for all these events were no more than what would be expected under conventional social norms. While I am grateful for all the sums received, I have confirmed that there were no cases where the amount was excessively large,” Kim said.
Doubts over Kim’s finances have mounted in part because he previously declared total assets of just over 210 million won to the National Assembly. Critics have questioned how he sustained a high standard of living — including repaying more than 900 million won in illegal political funds after convictions in 2005 and 2010 — while also covering his son’s tuition at Cornell University, one of the most expensive institutions in the United States.
Regarding his son’s tuition, Kim claimed that his former wife took care of it. The two divorced in 2014.
But PPP lawmakers remained unconvinced.
Rep. Kim Hee-jung pressed Kim over his ties to Kang Shin-sung, who opposition lawmakers suspect may have acted as an illicit political sponsor, citing questionable past transactions.
PPP lawmakers also criticized Kim for failing to provide adequate documentation to support his explanations.
“The nominee has not properly obtained consent for the provision of personal information from himself and those around him, and there are virtually no substantive materials that sufficiently explain the issues at hand,” Rep. Bae June-young said.
Kim Min-seok, President Lee Jae Myung's pick for prime minister, takes an oath ahead of his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis
In his opening statement, Kim vowed to approach the role with innovation and pragmatism, pledging to tackle the country’s pressing challenges, including economic crises.
However, Rep. Kim Hee-jung challenged Kim’s qualifications and readiness for the role, citing his vague responses to questions on the economy and fiscal policy. When asked to cite Korea’s debt-to-GDP ratio, Kim estimated it at “20 to 30 percent.” The lawmaker swiftly corrected him, noting that the figure is projected to reach 48.4 percent following the expected passage of a supplementary budget.
Kim also dismissed allegations of being “anti-U.S.” over his past criminal record in relation to the 1985 occupation of the U.S. Cultural Center in Seoul. He was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for his role, but was pardoned and released in 1988.
He said the alliance between the two countries is “the foundation of Korea’s diplomacy and politics.”
“At a time when the international order is being reorganized, it is necessary to reinforce the Korea-U.S. alliance not only in security but also in all areas, including economy, politics and culture,” he added.
The prime minister is the only Cabinet post that requires Assembly consent for appointment. Other minister nominees undergo the confirmation process, but consent is not required for their appointment by the president.
The motion for a prime minister’s confirmation can be approved by a majority of lawmakers. The ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea can do so unilaterally as it holds a parliamentary majority.