Overview

• The National Assembly hearing concluded without any witness testimony for the first time since 2000, drawing strong criticism from People Power Party members
• Kim Min-Seok defended the 800 million won discrepancy between his official income and spending by citing family gifts, book-launch receptions and support from his mother-in-law
• Opposition MPs pressed the nominee to submit tax records, immigration documents and proof of his Tsinghua University master’s degree
• Democratic Party lawmakers rejected calls to extend the two-day hearing and accused the opposition of politicizing the vetting process
• With 167 of 298 seats, the ruling party is poised to approve Kim’s confirmation next week despite sustained objections