Controversial Confirmation Hearings for Ministerial Candidates Disrupted

On July 14, 2025, the confirmation hearings for ministerial candidates under the Lee Jae-myung administration faced significant disruptions, with some committees unable to proceed beyond the opening stages. The National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee attempted to hold a hearing for 강선우 (Kang Sun-woo), the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, but was forced to suspend the session just ten minutes in without the candidate even taking an oath. Members of the opposition party, 국민의힘 (People Power Party), protested by displaying signs reading '갑질왕 강선우 OUT' (King of Abuse, Kang Sun-woo OUT) on their laptops. Prior to the hearing, the party's aides staged a demonstration with placards highlighting allegations against Kang, including claims of inappropriate demands made to staff during her time as a lawmaker.

As the session began, members of the ruling party, 더불어민주당 (Democratic Party), raised objections to the committee chair's handling of the proceedings. When the chair announced the oath-taking, Democratic Party members insisted on making procedural statements first, leading to a heated exchange that prompted the chair to call for a recess after just ten minutes.

Similarly, the Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee also faced turmoil during the confirmation hearing for 배경훈 (Bae Kyung-hoon), the nominee for Minister of Science and ICT. The session was abruptly adjourned before it could officially commence, as members of the People Power Party displayed signs reading '최민희 독재 OUT! 이재명은 협치하라' (Choi Min-hee, Out with Dictatorship! Lee Jae-myung, Collaborate!). The committee chair, 최민희 (Choi Min-hee), declared the session adjourned, citing disruptions to the order of the meeting. She explained that when a member violates laws or rules, the chair has the authority to issue warnings or adjourn the meeting if maintaining order becomes difficult. Following this, she immediately announced the adjournment.