The confirmation hearing for Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, began with sharp disputes between the ruling and opposition parties over the selection of witnesses and the submission of evidence.
Im Jong-deuk, the opposition party's representative on the National Defense Committee, criticized the hearing during a procedural statement, saying, "This has become a hearing where no one can be called to verify the facts of the allegations raised. The verification through witnesses has been effectively blocked."
Im specifically pointed out that requested materials, including the military records of the nominee's children, had not been submitted. He demanded evidence regarding a loan allegation involving 700 million won, stating that documentation and explanations from relevant parties were necessary to confirm the circumstances of the loan, repayment ability, and actual repayment status.
In response, Kim Byeong-joo, the ruling party's representative, argued that the opposition's proposed witnesses included personnel related to the nominee's office, stating, "The hearing should not become a platform for political attacks." He emphasized the need to thoroughly verify the nominee's capabilities and policies, cautioning against baseless allegations regarding morality.
National Defense Committee Chairman Jin Sung-jun explained that the failure to reach an agreement between the parties resulted in the lack of selected witnesses. While he expressed that there was no practical benefit to additional selections, he requested that the nominee submit as much relevant material as possible with the cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense and his family.
Meanwhile, during his opening remarks at the confirmation hearing, Kang stated, "I will create a victorious Republic of Korea Armed Forces," adding, "Victory will become the strategy of our defense and the policy of our defense." He further noted, "As we establish a defense posture led by our military across all domains, we will strengthen our combined defense posture under the solid trust of the South Korea-U.S. alliance."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.