Opposition lawmakers demand environment minister nominee withdraw

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- Parliamentary environment committee members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party refused Wednesday to adopt a confirmation hearing report for Environment Minister nominee Cho Myung-rae, saying he's unfit for the job due to a series of ethical lapses.

The lawmakers, including Reps. Lim Lee-ja, Khang Hyo-shang and Moon Jin-kook, claimed at a press conference that Cho falsely registered his home address to get his children into better schools, and committed gift tax evasion and other irregularities.

They also accused Cho of lying about these alleged wrongdoings during his confirmation hearing Wednesday and demanded him to give up the nomination. The lawmakers threatened to file a complaint with the prosecution against Cho for giving false statements unless he gives up the nomination.

President Moon Jae-in named Cho early this month to replace Kim Eun-kyung as environment minister.

By law, the National Assembly cannot reject a minister's nomination, and refusal to adopt a confirmation hearing report is the most it can do to express an objection.

Regardless of whether a confirmation hearing report is adopted or not, the president can go ahead and appoint the nominee if the National Assembly fails to comply with his request for a report.
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