[Edaily Reporter Kim Sung-kon ] The eyes of the entire nation are on Yeouido. This is because the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won is set to take place at the National Assembly at 10 a.m. today. The Democratic Party of Korea is calling for “Kim Seung-won’s confirmation,” while the People Power Party is calling for “Kim Seung-won’s rejection,” waging a battle of offense and defense. Additionally, attention is focused on whether Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker who has led an indiscriminate scrutiny campaign against Nominee Kim Seung-won under the framing of the “older brother’s poison lobbying scandal,” will reveal additional “smoking gun” evidence on the day of the confirmation hearing.

◇Kim Seung-won: “Defend vs. Oust”—Ruling and Opposition Parties in All-Out Attack Mode

Kim Seung-won’s confirmation hearing marks a critical turning point in the political landscape. With the president’s approval rating plummeting to the low 30s in various polls, both the ruling and opposition parties are staking their political survival on the outcome. The Democratic Party is in a panic. Given that Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, was forced to withdraw due to deteriorating public opinion, the party must absolutely defend Nominee Kim. If the so-called “Kim Seong-yong” cannot be protected despite the Democratic Party’s all-in strategy, President Lee will effectively enter a lame-duck period.

The People Power Party, on the other hand, holds all the cards. Through today’s confirmation hearing, they plan to launch an all-out offensive to force the nominee’s withdrawal. Their ammunition is explosive. These include allegations of lobbying for COVID-19 drug clinical trials, as well as the stock manipulation scandal, fraudulent residency registration, drunk driving, and a history of defending sexual assault perpetrators, among others. It would be best if Nominee Kim were to resign due to the deteriorating public opinion. Conversely, if Nominee Kim decides to hold her ground after the confirmation hearing, it’s not necessarily a bad card to play, as it could lead to a further decline in the President’s approval ratings.

The key point to watch is what happens after the confirmation hearing. The adoption of the confirmation hearing report by the Judiciary Committee is highly unlikely to succeed due to differences in position between the ruling and opposition parties. The confirmation hearing report is an official document containing the ruling and opposition parties’ opinions on the nominee’s suitability or unsuitability for the position of minister. It primarily focuses on the nominee’s qualifications, abilities, and moral character, and also includes the content of questions and answers from the confirmation hearing. Although the Democratic Party could force the adoption of the confirmation hearing report based on its numerical superiority, at this point, a consensus between the ruling and opposition parties must take priority.

If the ruling and opposition parties fail to adopt the confirmation hearing report, President Lee may request that it be resubmitted within 10 days. If the National Assembly fails to submit the report by the deadline, the appointment of the minister becomes possible. However, if public opinion opposing the appointment of Nominee Kim remains overwhelmingly higher than that in favor even after the National Assembly confirmation hearing, it would be a significant burden for President Lee to proceed with the appointment immediately. President Lee will face the most difficult and solitary moment of decision-making since taking office.

◇Democratic Party Leadership Holds Dinner Meeting with Prime Minister Han Seong-suk at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Samcheong-dong

Democratic Party leadership, including Party Leader Kim Min-seok and Floor Leader Han Byung-do, will hold a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Han Seong-suk at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. This marks the second meeting in two days—following a high-level party-government meeting on the 13th—to discuss key political issues. The dinner, proposed by the Prime Minister’s Office to strengthen ties between the party and the government, will be held behind closed doors. At this meeting, the Democratic Party leadership and Prime Minister Han are expected to engage in in-depth discussions not only on the smooth passage of next year’s budget bill but also on the current administration’s key initiatives, such as the Special Act on Mega Special Economic Zones.

◇ Ruling and Opposition Party Leadership Meet with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel

Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties will each meet with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel, who is visiting the National Assembly. Ambassador Steel’s visit to the National Assembly today serves as an introductory meeting with the leaders of both parties following her official appointment last July. The meetings—each expected to last about 30 minutes—are scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. with Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok and at 2:10 p.m. with People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk. During their meetings with Ambassador Steele, the leaders of both parties are expected to emphasize the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance and discuss key bilateral issues, including the economy and trade. In particular, the focus will be on what discussions will take place regarding the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz—a critical issue between the two countries raised by the Trump administration.