As the new government enters its second week, politicians from both parties assess the current administration.
On the MBC debate program '100 Minutes Debate' airing at 9 PM on the 17th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-kyu, People Power Party lawmaker Shin Dong-wook, and Park Sung-tae, head of the People and Society Research Institute, along with Yoon Tae-gon, head of the Themoa Political Analysis Office, will reflect on the first two weeks of the Lee Jae-myung government and discuss future challenges.
In the early days of the new government, President Lee Jae-myung minimized noticeable foreign activities. He visited the Korea Exchange, met with business leaders, and visited the site of the Itaewon disaster and the front-line unit in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. It is interpreted that the new government, which launched without a transition committee due to the early presidential election, is prioritizing stability over shock and practicality over ideology, as establishing a national policy is of utmost importance.
On the other hand, the three major special investigation laws, which are key pledges from the presidential election and the first legislation of the new government, were swiftly processed from passing the National Assembly to being announced at the Cabinet meeting, and the nomination of special investigation candidates and presidential appointments. The ruling government and party's speed in 'overcoming insurrection' has been met with backlash from the opposition, which calls it "a frenzy of political revenge."
In the National Assembly, where the roles have reversed, tensions are rising over personnel hearings and the formation of committees. The ruling party has proposed a 'prosecutorial reform bill' aimed at completing prosecutorial reform, which includes abolishing the prosecution office and establishing the Public Prosecution Service, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and the National Investigation Commission under the Prime Minister.
President Lee is expected to accelerate cabinet appointments starting later this week after returning from the G7 summit. With the recent resignation of former Chief of Civil Affairs Oh Kwang-soo, warning lights have been turned on for the new government's personnel verification system. The National Assembly hearing for Kim Min-seok, the nominee for Prime Minister, who will essentially be the first key appointment of the cabinet, is expected to see fierce confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties.
