(LEAD) Main opposition boycotts adoption of PM nominee's confirmation report

Politics 17:10 May 10, 2021

(ATTN: UPDATES with more developments at bottom)

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition party on Monday boycotted the adoption of a confirmation report for President Moon Jae-in's pick for prime minister in protest against the president's remarks hinting that he will appoint three other minister nominees despite fierce opposition from the party.

Rep. Suh Byung-soo of the People Power Party, who chairs the parliamentary committee on Kim Boo-kyum's confirmation hearing, said he canceled a scheduled committee meeting to deliberate on the adoption of Kim's confirmation report, citing the comments made by Moon earlier in the day.

In a press conference marking the fourth anniversary of his inauguration, Moon stated that he doesn't see the administration's process of verifying the personal backgrounds of the science, oceans and land minister nominees as a failure just because the opposition objects to their appointments.

Prime minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum arrives at his temporary office in central Seoul on April 18, 2021, to prepare for his upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearing. (Yonhap)

Lim Hye-sook, Park Jun-young and Noh Hyeong-ouk, nominees for science, oceans and land ministers, respectively, were heavily targeted by the PPP for some of their personal and family-related histories that are alleged to be unethical to borderline illegal.

Suh said the comments were a sign that Moon will appoint the nominees regardless of the outcome of parliament's confirmation hearing and added that he declines to sign off on such a "perfunctory confirmation hearing."

The deadlock came as Monday marked the deadline for parliament to adopt reports on whether or not to approve Kim and the three ministers' nominations. Cheong Wa Dae could send an additional request for parliament to adopt the reports on the nominees.

Despite the PPP's boycott, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) later convened the committee meeting to adopt Kim's confirmation report without the opposition's participation.

The meeting was held citing the National Assembly law that allows committee deliberations when requested by more than a quarter of members. The DP is expected to move forward with adopting Kim's confirmation report.