President defends PM nominee amid backlash from opposition party

President Lee Jae Myung poses with leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of a luncheon meeting at the presidential residence in Yongsan District, Seoul, Sunday. From left are PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog, PPP interim leader Kim Yong-tae, Lee and DPK floor leader Kim Byung-kee. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday defended Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok, urging opposition lawmakers to give him a chance to address the controversies surrounding his appointment.

His remarks, made during a luncheon with leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), came amid growing pressure from the PPP for Kim to withdraw ahead of his confirmation hearing later this week.

The luncheon meeting, held at the presidential residence in Yongsan District, was attended by DPK floor leader Kim Byung-kee, PPP interim leader Kim Yong-tae and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog. It began at noon and lasted for an hour and 45 minutes.

"The opposition leadership raised serious concerns about the prime minister nominee, pointing to issues in his background and perceived misconduct during the confirmation process," Woo Sang-ho, presidential secretary for political affairs, said at a briefing following the meeting.

"The president said it would be appropriate to wait for his explanations during the confirmation hearing."

Woo Sang-ho, presidential secretary for political affairs, speaks during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

According to Woo, Lee also agreed on the need to improve the current parliamentary confirmation process, echoing concerns raised by the DPK floor leader about increased scrutiny of government nominees — including investigations into their family members — which he said is discouraging qualified individuals from accepting Cabinet positions.

Lee's defense comes as Kim Min-seok, a four-term liberal lawmaker and a close aide to Lee, faces growing calls from the PPP to reject his nomination as prime minister.

The conservative party cited a 2005 Supreme Court conviction for receiving illicit political funds, as well as allegations that he abused his authority to benefit his son's extracurricular activities and university admission.

Kim has denied all allegations, maintaining he was not personally involved in the political funding case.

A fierce partisan clash is expected during Kim's confirmation hearing scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Unlike other Cabinet posts, the prime minister’s appointment requires approval in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, during Sunday's meeting, Lee said he would consider diverse opinions on the government's recently unveiled second supplementary budget.

"We need to implement the supplementary budget soon, and it is natural to have differing views on policies. I am aware of these differences, but we will listen carefully, make necessary adjustments and find common ground where possible," the president said, emphasizing the need for swift implementation.

Lee also updated party leaders on the outcomes of his recent trip to Canada for the G7 summit. He praised Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for attending a ceremony in Tokyo last Thursday marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between Korea and Japan.

The meeting, held just 18 days after Lee's inauguration, marked one of the earliest direct talks between the president and opposition leadership compared to past administrations.

The presidential office described the engagement as a sign of Lee's willingness to work across party lines.

While the meeting did not focus on any specific policy agenda or produce formal agreements, a presidential official said it laid the groundwork for candid dialogue.

"There were clearly areas of common ground. Some of these may be discussed further within each party and could lead to progress," the official told reporters in a closed-door briefing.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a luncheon with leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition People Power Party at the presidential residence in Yongsan District, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

The rare meeting came amid ongoing political gridlock at the National Assembly, where the DPK and PPP remain at loggerheads over several key issues.

The two parties continue to clash over the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a powerful panel that can expedite or delay the passage of bills.

This stalemate may delay the review of the government’s recently unveiled second supplementary budget. The 20.2 trillion won ($14.7 billion) package, announced last Thursday, includes cash handouts to all citizens and aims to stimulate domestic demand and boost economic activity during the summer.

The DPK, which holds a majority in the Assembly, hopes to pass the bill by the end of June. However, the PPP has criticized the plan as populist and is demanding thorough scrutiny, particularly regarding the scope of direct payments.

Although the DPK could theoretically push the budget through unilaterally at a plenary session, the bill must first be reviewed by the Assembly’s budget committee, which has yet to be formed amid ongoing disputes over committee chairmanships.