As political parties remain divided over the nomination of Han Seong-sook for Prime Minister, the likelihood of proceeding with the confirmation process without adopting a report from the confirmation hearing has increased. If Han is confirmed through a vote in the National Assembly without bipartisan agreement, tensions between the ruling and opposition parties are expected to escalate further.
The full meeting of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Personnel Hearings was scheduled for June 29 but was abruptly canceled the day before. A Democratic Party official stated, "While there were discussions among the secretaries on June 26, the June 29 meeting was not confirmed."
Notably, June 29 is the deadline for submitting the report on Han's confirmation hearing, which took place over two days starting June 25. The cancellation of the full meeting effectively eliminates the possibility of adopting the report.
Kang Jun-hyun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, spoke to reporters after a Supreme Council meeting, saying, "We are continuously demanding that the National Assembly convene tomorrow. We believe it is necessary to hold the vote on Han's confirmation and the election of committee chairs tomorrow."
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-kyu expressed on Facebook on June 27, "Even if the People Power Party's stance is 'opposition for the sake of opposition,' we cannot allow a vacuum in governance. We will complete the Prime Minister confirmation process as soon as possible."
Conversely, Kang Seung-kyu, the People Power Party's secretary, posted on Facebook on June 26, titled 'My Judgment on Han's Confirmation Hearing,' stating, "Han appears to be more of a Prime Minister who conveys the President's intentions to the public rather than one who communicates the public's sentiments to the President."
He further explained, "The Prime Minister needed in South Korea is not someone who caters to the President's mood but one who protects the public sentiment. I have concluded that Han is inadequate and unfit to gain the public's trust as Prime Minister."
The confirmation of the Prime Minister by the National Assembly requires a majority of the attending members to vote in favor. The Democratic Party holds 161 seats, allowing them to proceed independently.
Previously, the confirmation of Prime Minister Kim was approved on July 3, 2025, without adopting a report from the confirmation hearing, amid a boycott by the People Power Party, which protested outside the National Assembly.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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