Korean Political Leaders Discuss Ministerial Appointments Amid Controversy

On July 18, 2025, the leaders of South Korea's two major political parties, Kim Byung-ki (김병기) of the Democratic Party and Song Eon-seok (송언석) of the People Power Party, met to discuss the confirmation hearings for ministerial candidates in the first cabinet of President Lee Jae-myung (이재명). Following their meeting, Song stated that the Democratic Party expressed a desire for all candidates to proceed without any withdrawals.

The two leaders aimed to align their positions regarding the confirmation reports for the ministerial nominees. Song mentioned that they agreed to continue discussions over the weekend to ensure that the final outcomes reflect the will of the people. He emphasized the importance of addressing public concerns regarding the most controversial candidates, Kang Sun-woo (강선우) for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and Lee Jin-sook (이진숙) for Minister of Education.

Song conveyed that he had communicated the public's apprehensions about these nominees and expressed hope for a shift in sentiment over the weekend. Meanwhile, Kim Byung-ki confirmed that both parties acknowledged their differing views but agreed to keep the dialogue open. He reiterated that the Democratic Party remains consistent in its stance, having found no significant issues with the candidates as per the committee's reports.

Kim also pointed out that the opposition has yet to provide substantial evidence to support their claims against the nominees, suggesting that the conclusions drawn by the committees should be respected. The discussions are crucial as they could influence the final decisions regarding the appointments of these key government officials.