Position of Policy Verification, Status of Preparations and Development of the Confirmation Hearing for Minister Appointments in the First Term of the Lee Jae-myung Government

Overview of the Confirmation Hearings for the 1st Cabinet Nominees of the Lee Jae-Myung Administration

In mid-July 2025, the confirmation hearings for key minister candidates to form the first cabinet of the Lee Jae-myung administration are in full swing. A total of 17 minister candidates are under consideration, with hearings scheduled to take place over four days, starting from July 14 to 18, each day beginning at 10 a.m. Each standing committee has opted to conduct simultaneous hearings for multiple candidates at the same time. These hearings serve as an opportunity to confirm the direction and philosophy of policies at the start of the administration, and it is noteworthy that they are a procedure to assess the preparedness and qualifications of the national leaders before the public, separate from the political battles between the ruling and opposition parties.

Status of the Hearing (July 14)

The confirmation hearings began on July 14, involving four candidates: Kang Sunwoo for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Bae Kyunghoon for the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeon Jae-soo for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Chung Dong-young for the Ministry of Unification. Candidate Kang Sunwoo is expected to present her position on the restructuring of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family based on her experience as a member of the National Assembly and her legislative activities related to gender equality policies. There have been allegations concerning her management of certain aides, and the inquiries between the ruling and opposition parties are expected to focus on policy continuity and discussions about the existence of the ministry. Candidate Bae Kyunghoon is presenting his vision based on his experience in the corporate ICT sector, particularly in data governance and artificial intelligence policies. Although there are several allegations regarding his children's stock holdings, military service, and the leakage of personal information while in corporate employment, he is reportedly organizing a clarifying stance through factual arrangements and document submissions on most issues. Candidate Jeon Jae-soo is preparing to restructure marine and fisheries policies and to expand support for fishing village economies based on his experience as a lawmaker. No unusual political attacks are anticipated in terms of verification, and a policy-centered hearing is expected. Candidate Chung Dong-young believes that his background, which mixes past political activities and private sector experience, necessitates scrutiny regarding his capabilities in promoting unification policies. Although some media outlets have reported suspicions of a conflict of interest regarding his family's solar energy-related business, details remain unconfirmed.

Status of the hearing progress (July 15)

On July 15, there is a scheduled confirmation hearing for Kwon Oh-eul, the nominee for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Kim Seong-hwan, the nominee for the Ministry of Environment, Han Sung-sook, the nominee for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Ahn Gyu-baek, the nominee for the Ministry of National Defense. Nominee Kwon Oh-eul presents the policies for senior national merit veterans and the digital transformation of veterans administration as core tasks, and there have been few moral-related allegations raised against him. Nominee Kim Seong-hwan is an expert in energy transition and climate policy, and plans to focus on explaining specific implementation strategies for the climate crisis and carbon neutrality. Some minor inquiries related to assets and children's backgrounds are expected, but they are not anticipated to become contentious issues. Nominee Han Sung-sook is preparing to expand digitalization for small businesses and support for startups based on her management experience in private IT companies, but some opposition parties are questioning whether her decision-making during her past corporate career aligns with public ethics. Nominee Ahn Gyu-baek focuses on the continuity issues of military service systems and defense reforms based on his experience in the National Defense Committee. There have been no allegations regarding involvement in military-related misconduct, and overall, a stable confirmation hearing is expected.

Current Status of the Hearing (July 16)

On July 16, the candidates for the hearing are Jeong Seong-ho, the nominee for the Ministry of Justice, Kim Young-hoon, the nominee for the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Lee Jin-sook, the nominee for the Ministry of Education. Candidate Jeong Seong-ho, a former prosecutor, is expected to be questioned on issues related to the balance between legal administration and prosecutor reform, as well as the maintenance of the rule of law within the public service. Candidate Kim Young-hoon, who has experience in the labor field and activities within labor organizations, is anticipated to face issues such as the flexibility of working hours, the reform of the industrial accident compensation system, and responses to platform labor. There is a possibility that the political sphere may raise ideological concerns regarding his background in labor movements, but discussions are likely to focus on policy responsiveness. Candidate Lee Jin-sook, based on her experience in the media and educational institutions, is presenting key issues such as the digital transformation of education, innovation in local universities, and the reorganization of higher education. However, amid recent allegations of plagiarism concerning her student’s thesis, it is expected that the hearing will involve questions intertwining morality and policy direction. So far, the candidate has completely denied the allegations and is refuting them with supporting evidence.

Current Status of the Hearing (July 17)

On July 17, hearings will be held for candidates Cho Hyun for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Jeong-kwan for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ku Yoon-cheol for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Candidate Cho Hyun is focusing on the core themes of the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea-China relations, and international trade strategy based on his experience in international organizations and diplomatic fields. Some have pointed out issues regarding the use of public assets during his tenure as a diplomat however, the main focus of the hearings is expected to be on foreign affairs. Candidate Kim Jeong-kwan, a former bureaucrat with expertise in the energy industry and export support policies, is expected to discuss topics such as regulatory easing for businesses and strategies for carbon neutrality in industrial transition. Candidate Ku Yoon-cheol, a former deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is anticipated to face major inquiries regarding budget management and fiscal soundness, with expected questions from the opposition regarding how to balance the expansion of social welfare budgets and maintaining fiscal soundness.

Status of the hearing (July 18)

On July 18, a solo hearing is scheduled for Yun Ho-jung, the nominee for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The nominee is a figure with extensive political experience, having previously served as the floor leader and acting party leader. He is expected to explain his stance on important issues such as administrative neutrality, the strengthening of local self-governance, and the reform of the police system. The controversy surrounding the nominee's morality is not significant, but there is a possibility that questions regarding his past political activities and neutrality may arise.

Candidate Preparation Status and Document Submission

All candidates are preparing for the hearing by continuously organizing the policy materials requested by each ministry and simulating responses to inquiries. However, some have pointed out that the document submission rate is low. For instance, in the case of candidate Baek Ground-hoon, it was reported that the submission rate was around 4% immediately after the request for a hearing, but this was based on initial submission criteria, and subsequent enhancements were made in consultation with the working staff. In contrast, internal reports indicate that candidates Gang Seon-woo, Kim Seong-hwan, and Koo Yoon-cheol have submission rates of over 60%. The selection of witnesses is overall minimal, with many candidates participating in the hearings without witnesses or with only 1 to 2 reference persons. This is analyzed as a measure stemming from the failure to coordinate some witnesses requested by the opposition party in agreement with the ruling party or as a precaution against the politicization of the hearings.

The significance of policy verification

Overall, this confirmation hearing is unfolding amidst a situation where the original purpose of candidate verification, which is centered on policies and qualifications, intersects with external perspectives focused on political strife and media allegations. The policy capabilities and national governance experiences of individual candidates have mostly been formed through objective channels, and there is a need to evaluate them in terms of their potential for substantial contributions to national governance. There are still instances where certain candidates' personal histories or past statements are overly interpreted or linked to political stigmas, but this is far from the purpose of policy verification. Each candidate is preparing plans for departmental operations based on expertise accumulated through various channels, including administration, legislation, private companies, and international organizations, and there are already examples of documents that include policy implementation plans post-hearing that have been submitted in advance.

The Future Role of Confirmation Hearings

The first cabinet of the Lee Jae-myung government is evaluated as a selection that prioritizes practicality and experience, but it is also clear that it is composed of technology and policy-oriented positions reflecting the circumstances and current issues of each ministry. The ministerial confirmation hearing is an opportunity for the public to gauge the nature of the cabinet, and through balanced questions from both the ruling and opposition parties and effective verification, it can serve as a turning point towards transitioning from person-centered politics to policy-centered administration. Given that the confirmation hearing is not merely a tool for political disputes but a systematic mechanism to confirm accountability and expertise in the executive branch, it can directly influence the success or failure of future cabinet formations and government operations. In this sense, both the public, the media, and the political sphere need to view the hearing with a more structural and substantive approach. The current confirmation hearing functions as a process that sets the coordinates for national governance over the next five years, rather than being a simple procedural hurdle.