Anchor: Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok has pledged at his confirmation hearing to become a prime minister who innovates and communicates. The first of the two-day hearing was dominated by clashes between rival camps over the president’s pick for the nation’s No. 2 post. 
Our Bae Joo-yon has more.

Report: In opening remarks at his parliamentary confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok vowed to become an innovative, pragmatic, field-oriented and communicative prime minister. 

Kim pledged to implement policies that directly affect people’s livelihoods within his first 100 days before presenting four major national policies, including fostering future industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors and building a foundation for social dialogue.

On the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Kim said the alliance is the core axis of South Korean politics and diplomacy.

With regard to President Lee Jae Myung not attending the NATO summit, Kim cautioned it may be excessive to worry that the direction of diplomacy will either be anti-American or pro-China.

Kim stated that due to differences among the U.S. and European countries, the main session involving NATO’s member states was cut down to two-and-a-half hours, meaning there would likely be little opportunity for invited countries, and also noted Japan’s decision not to attend.

Meanwhile, rival political parties clashed over Kim’s decision to withhold information from the National Assembly screening panel on privacy grounds.

Rep. Lee Jong-bae of the main opposition People Power Party, who heads the special committee in charge of personnel hearings, expressed regret that Kim failed to submit more than 73 percent of the requested documents.

The ruling Democratic Party said the main opposition was making excessive demands of Kim and insisting on files that have nothing to do with the vetting process.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.