Moon asks Assembly to submit a hearing report on Choo

Rep. Choo Mi-ae, justice minister nominee, answers reporters' questions at her temporary office for hearing preparations in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

President Moon Jae-in asked the National Assembly to submit a hearing report on his choice of Choo Mi-ae as the next justice minister.

“President Moon asked the National Assembly to send reports on the confirmation hearings for justice minister-designate Choo Mi-ae. Because of the request, the confirmation hearings on Choo for the justice minister position will be held within this month,” a ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) official said, Wednesday.

While South Korean lawmakers could submit confirmation hearing reports to express their support or disapproval of ministerial candidates, President Moon doesn't need approval to appoint his nominees other than from the prime minister.

As a former DPK chairwoman and judge, Rep. Choo is considered the “right fit” for the justice minister position to support President Moon's drive for prosecutorial reform. The justice minister position has been vacant since the President accepted an offer of resignation from former Justice Minister Cho Kuk over allegations of Cho's connection to various financial crimes.

The National Assembly is obliged to complete the hearing process about President Moon's nominees for ministerial positions and other high-ranking officials within 20 days after the President's request for the confirmation hearings. If the Assembly fails to do so, President Moon can make another request giving the Assembly an additional 10 days.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) said it opposes the President's choice of Choo for justice minister. Political analysts say it's highly likely the hearing report won't be adopted.

LKP said the President's nomination of Choo for the position was mostly intended to extend the current regime by dominating the judiciary. Also, the LKP started an indefinite sit-in protest at the Assembly on Wednesday to protest the passage of a budget bill for the 2020 fiscal year, which had been pushed forward without the LKP's approval. That raised speculations the conservative party will boycott any Assembly activities for the foreseeable future.

When Cho had been tapped as the justice minister, the LKP boycotted his hearing in a show of objection against his nomination. Cho held a press conference by himself and answered reporters' questions at the Assembly attempting to clear the allegations surrounding him.