After weeks of wrangling, the ruling and main opposition parties agreed to hold a parliamentary confirmation hearing of Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk on Friday.
The dramatic agreement came after the rival parties sparred on Wednesday over the date of a parliamentary confirmation hearing for the nominee is facing a flurry of allegations involving his daughter and wife.
All the parties have agreed not to summon Cho’s family members to the hearing.
“We had many differences, but based on our judgement that it is right to fulfill the National Assembly’s responsibility, we have agreed to hold Cho’s parliamentary confirmation hearing on Friday,” main opposition Liberty Korea Party Floor Leader Na Kyung-won told reporters after reaching a deal.
 |
Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk (Yonhap) |
Na added the hearing willing be held without witnesses, as the legal deadline to call them has passed.
“Though belated, it is a relief that the confirmation hearing will be held. I will explain more details at the hearing,” Cho said in a statement.
President Moon on Tuesday made a second request to the National Assembly to send a hearing report on Cho and other Cabinet nominees by Friday.
The approval rating for Cho rose following Monday’s press conference, which lasted eight hours and 20 minutes.
 |
Floor Leaders of ruling and main opposition parties convene for a meeting to discuss Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk's confirmation hearing date Wednesday morning. (Yonhap) |
Though more than half of the country remains opposed to Cho’s nomination, he was supported by 46.1 percent of 501 people surveyed in a recent poll, up 3.8 percentage points from the previous survey, according to local pollster Realmeter. Cho’s opponents made up 51.5 percent of the total, down 2.8 percentage points.
Minor conservative Bareunmirae Party Floor Leader Oh Shin-hwan lambasted the other parties over the agreement.
“The party’s stance remains unchanged that we will not serve as a foil for President Moon Jae-in’s show to protect Cho Kuk. Democratic Party and Liberty Korea Party have reached an agreement to hold a witness-less hearing, and decided on an absurd schedule,” Oh said.
By Kim Bo-gyung (
lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)
![[News Focus] Support-rating gap between rival parties narrows](http://res.heraldm.com/phpwas/restmb_idxmake.php?idx=605&simg=/content/image/2019/09/02/20190902000672_0.jpg)
