Five minister nominees face tough grilling

While opposition parties pledge to call off the government reshuffle results, the five minister nominees face their parliamentary hearing this week, where they are to be grilled over varying charges and suspicions.

“We aim at dismissing all five nominees through the hearings,” said Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party.

His ruling Grand National Party counterpart Hwang Woo-yea vowed to be fair and strict in judging the qualifications of the potential ministers.

The opposition camp earlier referred to the five minister nominees ― for the agriculture, environment, finance, labor and land ministries ― as President Lee’s personal connections and accused them of charges of irregularities or unethical conduct.

The National Assembly started off with agriculture minister nominee Suh Kyu-yong on Monday, focusing on his charges of illicitly taking a governmental rice subsidy.

Suh, who owns rice paddies in North Choongcheong Province, received 359,000 won ($328) in 2007 and 239,000 won in 2008, based on the subsidy system which he introduced back in 2005.

Though he claimed to have been legally entitled to take the subsidies, he acknowledged that he should have been more cautious as a governmental official.

He was also questioned over the charge of granting a governmental research fund to a feed additives company owned by an acquaintance, while he worked as agricultural vice minister in the past.

Environment minister nominee Yoo Young-sook, who faces the hearing on Tuesday, is accused of making a political-motivated offering to President Lee’s church.

Yoo dedicated 96.16 million won ($87,657) to Somang Church, but denied the accusations, claiming that she had no ties with the church at the time of the reshuffle.

Bahk Jae-wan, finance minister nominee and one of the closest aides to the president, will also face a fierce attack from the opposition on Wednesday on his expertise and ethical qualifications.

DP lawmakers accused him of evading gift taxes in his past transactions and of falsely transferring his residential address.

Lee Chae-pil, the labor minister nominee, is to respond to the charges that he took bribes during his days as a senior official in the labor ministry, though he claimed to have returned the money immediately to the briber.

Land minister nominee Kwon Do-yup, who is to undergo his hearing on Thursday, is suspected of having received an excessive salary from a law firm last year, shortly after retiring from the vice minister post.

Some lawmakers also accused him of real estate speculation when he sold his apartment.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)