PM nominee undergoes confirmation hearing amid controversies over data leak, multiple homes

Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook faced a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday amid controversies over a personal data leak and multiple homes. Han pledged to focus on AI transformation and economic restructuring, drawing on her three decades of tech innovation experience.

Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook began undergoing a two-day confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday as the main opposition party questioned her eligibility for the post. Han, who currently serves as minister for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, has come under scrutiny over a series of controversies, including a personal information leak involving the government's audition-style startup incubation program. "I will become a prime minister who focuses solely on working for the happiness of the people and deliver tangible results," Han said at the hearing. The nominee described the next few years as a critical period that will determine Korea's competitiveness amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence AI , saying she will draw on experiences that she gained over "three decades working on the frontline of technological innovation." "I will make all-out efforts to drive a bold AI transformation that reshapes the economic structure, help the future generations grow and create a warm safety net for the underprivileged," said the former CEO of o