Jang Dong-hyeok calls on President Lee to scrap cabinet reshuffle, overhaul Cheong Wa Dae

The People Power Party said Thursday that confirmation hearings for key cabinet nominees had ended in "disaster" and called on President Lee Jae Myung to scrap what it described as a botched cabinet reshuffle and carry out a full overhaul of Cheong Wa Dae.

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, speaking at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, said the reshuffle would have been better left undone. "The public's blood pressure collectively spiked watching these confirmation hearings," he said.

Jang reserved particular scorn for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, calling the hearing "a shameless low-grade comedy." He said Kim had failed to address allegations involving stock price manipulation, unauthorized human trials and a family cooperative. "The tearful performance and the applause show only confirmed why Gag Concert went off the air," Jang said.

He also criticized Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-cheol, whom he labeled the "demolition-squad commando," saying Kang had pledged to push ahead with merging military academies and reclaiming wartime operational control. "He cannot even call North Korea the main enemy, yet he claims he will take responsibility for South Korea's national defense," Jang said.

Jang described Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyeong-il and Land Minister nominee Hong Ji-seon as "avatars of President Lee," saying they were people who would follow the president's orders regardless of whether housing prices soared or the economy collapsed.

Jang said President Lee's scheduled press conference on Friday would be meaningful only if it began with an apology. "He must first apologize to the people for his arrogance and incompetence," Jang said. "He must declare a complete policy overhaul — on real estate, diplomacy, security, everything — and keep his promises."

He added that the president should not count on a "one-man show of lies" to escape the crisis. "Our people have been deceived enough and will not be deceived any further," he said.

PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also weighed in on the confirmation hearing fallout. He described Kim Seung-won's performance as "a tearful melodrama," and said the administration was pressing ahead with the appointment despite opposition from the progressive civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. "Everyone knows the real reason for this reckless move lies in the withdrawal of the indictment against the president," Jeong said.

Jeong also went on the offensive against the government itself. "The current cabinet, including a president with four prior convictions, has a combined criminal record of 34 counts among its key figures," he said. "If the administration pushes through the appointment of drunk-driving convict Kim Seung-won, that criminal cabinet will be further reinforced with a total of 35 convictions."

He added that the government and the ruling party were "running roughshod over personnel appointments with no regard for the people." "This is a declaration of war against the public," Jeong said. "Arrogant power will always face judgment."