Lawmakers Grill Acting Prime Minister

The National Assembly held confirmation hearings about Prime Minister-designate Han Myeong-sook on April 17, questioning her ability to govern the nation, moral standard, ideology, and thoughts.

Lawmakers of the opposition Grand National Party grilled Han about suspicions involving her son’s military duty and her view on North Korea. Some ruling Uri Party lawmakers were mocked about their too enthusiastic explanation about the questions on behalf of Han. Some sarcastically said, “Whose confirmation hearing is this?”

The parliamentary confirmation hearing will continue until April 18.

GNP lawmaker Joo Ho-young raised suspicions that “Park Han-gil, the nominee’s son, finished his military training for removing mines and was later assigned to administrative position at a military unit only 10km away from his home.”

Han answered that “I have never asked for the changes in his position.”

Park Hyeong-joon of GNP pointed out that “when Han was elected city councilor in the 17th general election, she gave pledges but failed to deliver most of them.” The nominee expressed sympathy with his remark, saying “It stings me.”

The opposition lawmakers raised suspicions that Han received medical benefits based on a fabricated working status at the Park’s Women’s Clinic. On this, Han admitted that she made a mistake to receive medical insurance that the president of the hospital offered with good intentions.” She said she should have bought local health insurance policies.

View on North Korea and Ideology-

Song Young-gil, a representative of the ruling Uri Party, said, “There are controversies about Han’s pro-North attitude.” “I believe in liberal democracy and market principles. I think everything should be handled in cooperation with the U.S., our closest ally,” Han responded.

On the human rights issue in North Korea, Han stated that “the government deals with improving the North Korean human rights record and maintaining peace on the Korean peninsula with actions rather than words,” and went on to say that “providing humanitarian aid to the North is an effort to improve human rights record in the North in regard to livelihood.” “If North counterfeited dollar notes, effective measures should be taken to tackle the illegal activities,” said Han.

The lawmakers also grilled Han about her involvement in the 1979 Christian Academy, which the then-government regarded as an underground communist network, and her listening to North Korean radio programs. Uri Party lawmakers argued that the record about the incident was fabricated since confessions were made under torture.

When lawmakers Park Young-sun and Choi Jae-cheon of the Uri Party mentioned torture, Han said, “With many twists and turns in modern history, many individuals led painful lives under authoritarian regimes. I want the confirmation hearing to deal with bright aspects, rather than past dark history.” She could not go on talking when she said “I underwent unimaginable, unspeakable, horrible torture.”

The nominee’s husband, Park Sung-joon, now a professor at Sungkonghoe University, served 13 years in prison for his involvement in a fabricated spy incident. She said she does not accept the court ruling and answered that “The case in point was wrong in categorizing college organization as underground network.”

Regarding her calling Park Geun-hye, leader of the GNP, as daughter of dictator, Han mentioned that the expression was not appropriate for the leader of the majority party.

Withdrawal from the Party and Fair Election-

Han promised that “Except for risk management, I would not make pledges or hold government and ruling party talks during election campaign, in an effort to have fair elections in the upcoming May 31 local elections.”

“President and ministers have party affiliation. I don’t understand why people demand particularly prime minister to withdraw from the party. If the ruling and opposition parties reach a consensus at the National Assembly and make a related law, I will give up party membership,” said Han.

“The Korean government, as free and open economy, cannot but signing the FTA with the U.S. However we should not give up national interest to satisfy the U.S. and will not rush for the conclusion of the agreements.”

Kang-Myoung Chang mindy@donga.com tesomiom@donga.com