Lee So-young, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, faced National Assembly scrutiny over her climate-law background, ties to Climate Solutions, gift-tax issues, alleged speculative real-estate investment and potential conflicts linked to her spouse’s employment at Kim & Jang. She pledged to restore KOSDAQ confidence, attract capital for smaller companies, ease cost pressures and reform regulations, while arguing that South Korea’s uniform 52-hour workweek cap and comprehensive wage system do not reflect diverse business conditions. Lee said a family member’s law-firm employment alone does not constitute a conflict, but promised to consult the ministry’s conflict of interest prevention officer before handling cases involving potential family interests. At separate hearings, Lee Hyoung-il said he would review whether electric vehicles should qualify for a domestic production tax credit, and lawmakers questioned justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won over alleged lobbying linked to Genencell’s COVID-19 treatment trial and leaked prosecution materials.