여야 원내대표 '경제투톱' 경질•조명래 놓고 티격태격
Amid the on-going budget screening at the National Assembly, the floor leaders of Korea's three negotiating bodies clashed once again.
This time over President Moon Jae-in's replacement of his finance minister and chief policy advisor.
Kim Mok-yeon has the latest from parliament.
The main talking point of the regular meeting on Monday was President Moon Jae-in's decision to replace his finance minister and his chief policy advisor last week.
Kim Sung-tae, the floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party criticized the government for making an abrupt change at an important period when the parliament is reviewing next year's budget.
He said that replacing the two economic chiefs is an evasion of their responsibility for the budget proposal.
In response to this, ruling party floor leader Hong Young-pyo claimed that the replacement came at the request of the opposition parties, adding that former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon will faithfully participate in the budget screening until
his successor Hong Nam-ki gets confirmed.
The floor leaders also touched upon the need for a revision of the parliament's confirmation hearing system.
The ruling party called for a systematic reform, saying the questioning under the current system is too harsh on candidates,.. whereas the opposition want to see the system changed so that nominees require parliamentary approval in order to be appointed.

Currently, the President can appoint a nominee even if the National Assembly fails to approve the candidate during a confirmation hearing.
National Assembly speaker Moon Hee-sang said that rival parties must put themselves in each others' shoes to come up with wise improvements to the current parliamentary confirmation system.
Meanwhile, the floor leaders agreed to expedite the passage of the Yoon Chang-ho act, a bill aimed at toughening the punishment for drunk driving.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.