Nat'l Assembly to begin interpellation sessions amid partisan tensions

The National Assembly was set to begin four days of interpellation sessions in Seoul Wednesday amid expected clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over President Lee Jae Myung’s Cabinet reshuffle and other issues. The main opposition People Power Party was expected to target Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea was expected to defend Lee administration prosecution reforms and push constitutional revision.

Wednesday’s political affairs session will be followed by foreign affairs, unification and security on Thursday, economic affairs on Friday and social issues next Monday.

Kim Seung-won is a two-term lawmaker accused of illegally lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021.

Yong Hye-in has faced criticism for keeping her National Assembly seat after being appointed to the Cabinet post.

The prosecution office is set to be shut down in October, 78 years after its establishment in 1948, and two new agencies will separately handle investigations and indictments.

The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing a constitutional amendment that would introduce a four-year, two-term presidential system, which the People Power Party says could help Lee seek another term.

Published Sep 9, 2026 10:39 am KST

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, center, bangs the gavel during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 1. Yonhap

The National Assembly was set to begin four days of interpellation sessions Wednesday, with the ruling and opposition parties expected to clash over President Lee Jae Myung's recent Cabinet reshuffle and other contentious issues.

During Wednesday's session, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is expected to step up its criticism of Lee's pick of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in.

Kim, a two-term lawmaker, is accused of illegally lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021. He has also faced criticism from the PPP over his involvement in a group of ruling party lawmakers calling for dropping Lee's criminal indictments.

Yong faces criticism over her decision to keep her National Assembly seat even after being appointed to the Cabinet position.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is expected to highlight the Lee administration's achievement in carrying out the liberal bloc's long-sought prosecution reforms, including stripping the prosecution of its power to conduct direct investigations.

The prosecution office will be shut down in October, 78 years after its establishment in 1948, and two new agencies will separately handle investigations and indictments.

Constitutional revision is also likely to emerge as a key issue of contention during the session.

The DPK has stressed the need for a constitutional amendment, including adopting a four-year, two-term presidential system through the constitutional revision, a move the PPP has slammed as an attempt to pave the way for Lee to seek another term.

Wednesday's session on political affairs will be followed by a session on foreign affairs, unification and security on Thursday, economic affairs on Friday and social issues next Monday.

韩国国会周三在首尔开始为期四天的质询会议，预计执政党和反对党将就李在明总统的内阁改组和其他问题发生冲突。主要反对党国民力量党预计将重点质询法务部长官提名人金承元和性别平等部长官提名人李铉惠仁。执政的共同民主党预计将捍卫李在明政府的检察改革，并推动宪法修改。

周三的政治事务会议之后，周四将举行外交、统一和安全会议，周五将举行经济事务会议，下周一将举行社会问题会议。

金承元是一名连任两届的国会议员，他被指控在2021年非法游说，以获取新冠肺炎的治疗方法。

杨惠仁在被任命为内阁成员后仍保留国会议员席位，因此受到批评。

该检察机关将于 10 月关闭，距其 1948 年成立已有 78 年历史，两个新的机构将分别处理调查和起诉事宜。

韩国民主党正在推动一项宪法修正案，该修正案将引入四年两届总统制，国民力量党表示，这可能有助于李明博寻求连任。

发布于2026年9月9日上午10:39（韩国标准时间）

9月1日，韩国国会下议院议长赵正植（中）在首尔举行的国会全体会议上敲响议槌。（韩联社）

韩国国会原定于周三开始为期四天的质询会议，预计执政党和反对党将就李在明总统最近的内阁改组和其他争议性问题发生冲突。

在周三的会议上，主要反对党国民力量党（PPP）预计将加大对李明博提名的法务部长官金承元和性别平等部长官龙惠​​仁的批评力度。

连任两届的国会议员金某被指控在2021年非法游说，以获取新冠肺炎治疗药物。他还因参与执政党议员呼吁撤销对李某的刑事指控而受到人民进步党的批评。

杨永祚因在被任命为内阁成员后仍保留国会议员席位而受到批评。

预计执政的韩国共同民主党（DPK）将重点宣传李明博政府在落实自由派阵营长期以来所寻求的检察改革方面取得的成就，包括剥夺检察机关直接调查的权力。

检察机关将于 10 月关闭，结束其 1948 年成立 78 年的历程，两个新的机构将分别负责调查和起诉工作。

宪法修订也可能成为本次会议期间的一个关键争议问题。

民主党强调需要修改宪法，包括通过宪法修正案实行四年两届总统制，而人民进步党则抨击此举是企图为李显龙寻求连任铺平道路。

周三的政治事务会议之后，周四将举行外交、统一和安全会议，周五将举行经济事务会议，下周一将举行社会问题会议。