(Seoul=Yonhap News) Photographer Hwang Kwang-mo = Hwang Jong-woo, nominee for minister of Oceans and Fisheries, appeared at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs and Oceans Committee on March 23 and completed his oath. 2026.3.23
hkmpooh@yna.co.kr
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Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, AI training and use prohibited.Hwang Jong-woo, nominee for minister of Oceans and Fisheries, after taking the oath at the confirmation hearing
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Photographer Hwang Kwang-mo = Hwang Jong-woo, nominee for minister of Oceans and Fisheries, appeared at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs and Oceans Committee on March 23 and completed his oath. 2026.3.23
hkmpooh@yna.co.kr
(End)
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, AI training and use prohibited.
Hwang Jong-woo’s confirmation hearing report for the post of minister of Oceans and Fisheries was adopted today by bipartisan agreement.
The report states that the nominee is qualified to address the significant challenges facing the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and to lead forward-looking development of marine and fisheries policy.
It also noted that there were no notable concerns regarding real estate speculation, military service, or plagiarism, and that his ethical record does not show deficiencies that would prevent him from serving as minister.
At today’s (23rd) hearing, lawmakers from both parties focused their questioning on Hwang’s fisheries experience and on issues related to his assets.
The Democratic Party raised concerns that Hwang’s experience in the fisheries sector is relatively limited, while the People Power Party criticized his explanations for a substantial increase in his bank deposits after leaving public office as insufficient.
Rep. Moon Geum-ju (Democratic Party) said, “Recent policies at the ministry have centered primarily on marine and shipping industries. Fisheries policy has repeatedly been pushed down the priority list.”
She added, “Although the nominee has more than 25 years in public service, he has only about three months of experience in fisheries policy. I urge the nominee to remember that the minister’s role is to oversee all policies, not to serve merely as a specialist in a single field.”
Rep. Park Jun-tae (People Power Party) pointed to Hwang’s 2023 role as an advisor to the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, saying, “He received about 30 million KRW (roughly $22,500) over a year in that advisory role. The group held six meetings, which averages about 5 million KRW (roughly $3,750) per meeting in advisory fees.”
Park also criticized the speaking fees, noting that HMM paid 1.5 million KRW (about $1,125) and 2 million KRW (about $1,500) for talks, and the fisheries cooperative paid 2.5 million KRW (about $1,875). He called those single-lecture fees excessive.
When asked whether the speaking fees were excessive, Hwang acknowledged, “They were somewhat excessive.”
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Reporter Jeong Hojin (hojeans@yna.co.kr)
