PM nominee Han Duck-soo faces confirmation hearing amid property, data leak controversies

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo is set to undergo a two-day parliamentary confirmation hearing, with the opposition People Power Party demanding his withdrawal. The party has raised multiple concerns, including allegations of illegal construction on agricultural land and a personal information leak incident from a startup support project he oversaw as minister of SMEs and Startups.

People Power Party lawmakers highlighted an alleged violation of the Agricultural Land Act, stating that Han's property in Yangpyeong County had unauthorized structures, including a gazebo, planted with ornamental trees and grass. They claim he was ordered to restore the land to its original state by last August but only recently removed the gazebo. Han's team stated that a sales contract for the land was signed on the 16th. The opposition plans to scrutinize Han's wealth accumulation, estimated at around 25 billion won, and its legality during the hearing.

Further controversy surrounds Han's property holdings and alleged illegal expansions. He recently sold three of his four homes, reportedly making a 3 billion won profit from an apartment sale in Jamsil, Seoul, with 500 million won donated to an international relief organization. An illegal extension connecting two buildings in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was reportedly demolished on the 23rd. The opposition also questions a below-market rent of 1.3 million won with a 10 million won deposit for a portion of a detached house he leased to his younger sister, suggesting it may be a scheme to avoid gift tax.

Additionally, the opposition is linking Han to a 3.9 billion won sponsorship from Naver to Seongnam FC during Lee Jae-myung's tenure as Seongnam mayor. Han was Naver's service director at the time, and Lee held dual roles as mayor and club owner. Han previously stated during his ministerial confirmation hearing that he was not involved in the sponsorship decision. The personal information leak from the 'Startup All Together' project, which exposed email addresses and application details of 5,000 participants, is also expected to be a major point of contention, with the opposition questioning his administrative capacity.