Prime Minister Nominee Hearing Sparks 'Military Service Controversy'… Fierce Verbal Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
In the confirmation hearing for Kim Min-seok, the Prime Minister nominee, fierce exchanges erupted between the ruling and opposition parties over military service issues.
As the opposition raised concerns about the military exemptions of nominee Kim and President Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party quickly retaliated. Tensions escalated further as a member of the People Power Party cited military service reasons of other members.
"Two individuals without military service" vs "Dragging in a president who is not even the subject of the hearing"
The confrontation was initiated by People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Gyu-taek. His remarks became a point of contention as he pointed out, "Both President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok have no record of military service."
In response, lawmaker Han Jeong-ae from the Democratic Party of Korea requested a personal statement and immediately countered. She criticized, "Bringing up President Lee, who is not the subject of the hearing, is unwarranted. It shows a lack of respect for the citizens who elected President Lee and for the president’s commitment to lead the nation through unity."
President Lee Jae-myung was exempted from military service after being diagnosed with a level 6 disability due to an industrial accident during his past as a child laborer, while nominee Kim, who served as the head of the Seoul National University Student Council, was exempted due to his imprisonment in the anti-dictatorship movement.
"I hope this isn't a refusal of the presidential election"… Ruling Party Strikes Back
The controversy intensified with remarks from Democratic Party lawmaker Park Seon-won. Park stated, "Bringing up the president's military service issue appears to be a refusal of the presidential election," adding, "It seems there is a lurking concern from the People Power Party about 'what if this government does well,' but I hope that is not the case."
Park further emphasized, "Some individuals received military exemptions due to acute hepatitis, while nominee Kim Min-seok served three years in prison as a substitute for military service." Present was lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who had previously received a military exemption due to hepatitis.
"Are you going to mention treatment records too?"… Demand for Apology Leads to More Heated Exchanges
Lawmaker Joo immediately reacted against Park's statements. Although Park did not directly refer to Joo, Joo interpreted Park's comments as an attack against him.
He claimed, "Lawmaker Park mentioned the reason for my military service," and asserted, "No matter how low the dignity of the National Assembly has fallen, one should not publicly discuss another person's medical history. I demand an apology."
In this situation, Representative Lee Jong-bae, chair of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Confirmation Hearing for the Prime Minister, attempted to mediate the escalating tension by encouraging Park to apologize, but Park refused.
Park stated, "Acute hepatitis is quickly treated and does not obstruct enlistment according to my medical knowledge," to which Joo retorted, "Why is Park deciding that?" leading to a prolonged back-and-forth in the hearing without any cooling down.
Image sources: Joo Jin-woo, People Power Party lawmaker / News1, Park Seon-won, Democratic Party lawmaker / News1, News1
