The National Assembly is likely to endorse Prime Minister nominee Lee Nak-yon who made his way through the two-day confirmation hearing without any critical flaws being exposed.

It is highly expected that the parties will adopt a parliamentary report on the hearing today at the earliest, before voting on a motion to approve him during a plenary session scheduled for May 29 and 31.

As soon as Lee receives a letter of appointment from President Moon Jae-in, following parliamentary approval, he will start work.

Moon has vowed to strengthen the role of the prime minister to move away from an "imperial presidency" that breeds abuse of power.

According to his chief press secretary, Moon is set to allow the prime minister to recommend candidates for ministers, which had remained a mere titular authority despite it being stated in the Constitution.

With Lee's endorsement looming, Moon is expected to accelerate filling remaining ministerial and deputy posts.

Lee said during the hearing that his opinion has already been delivered to Moon, and the appointment of former female lieutenant colonel Pee Woo-jin to be minister of patriots and veterans affairs was the result of their consultation.

But he implied that he will exert his authority cautiously, saying, "If a president follows whatever the prime minister asks him to, the basis of the Constitution could be undermined."

"I think what I can do is recommend whom I have confidence in and make a final call together with the President."
Lee, a former four-term lawmaker and journalist, has been grilled by opposition lawmakers over the allegations involving his family members during the two long days of testimony.

He emerged from about 20 hours of questioning largely unscathed. His performance was composed and humble. He did not dodge questions and answered fairly, leaving his inquisitors almost empty-handed.

When lawmakers repeatedly pressed him on an allegation that his son evaded military service with a possibly fake health condition, Lee calmly explained that a shoulder injury and multiple pituitary surgeries kept him from serving.
He responded with such remarks as "As a father, I feel terribly bad that my son is being talked about as such," "He has no choice but to live as a sinner."

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) lawmakers also pushed the allegation that Lee's art teacher and painter wife temporarily changed her address to Gangnam, Seoul's wealthy suburb, to be assigned to one of the schools in the district in 1989.

Lee immediately conceded that she attempted to do so, saying "I'm sorry I did not notice it until the hearing."
He also said he feels "miserable" and "It was done based on a very silly thought."

Meanwhile, some lawmakers sought repeatedly to get a fix on the nominee's view about a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery deployed in the southeastern part of the country.

When asked if he would review the decision-making process about its deployment by the previous Park Geun-hye government, Lee said he intends to "investigate" the background of the decision.

"Factors to be considered are national security, the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea-China relations, and procedural legitimacy. There was a flaw in the procedure so the plan reached a deadlock," he said. "The former government had cited nothing was decided or discussed, but later announced its deployment, placing unnecessary strain on Korea-China relations."

He also agreed with liberal lawmakers on the need to seek parliamentary approval before pushing the deployment of the system.

"He might have some issues about his family members, but there were no grounds for disqualification regarding his own life," a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea who attended the hearing said, speculating there would be no trouble in endorsing his appointment. 

"Also, we highly appreciate his intention to become a more responsible and power-sharing prime minister and foster cooperative politics."