"The president approved the appointment of nominee Kim, whose confirmation hearing report has been adopted," Kang You-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, said in a notice to the press.
Earlier in the day, the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee adopted the report on Kim's confirmation hearing at a plenary session. The adoption came a day after the hearing was held and 13 days after the confirmation request was submitted to the National Assembly.
The report is said to have included both the ruling and opposition parties' assessments of Kim as qualified and unqualified. At the committee's hearing the previous day, not only opposition lawmakers but also hardliners within the ruling Democratic Party said Kim was unfit for the post. The Rebuilding Korea Party, which leans pro-government, adopted opposition to the appointment as its official party position.
Despite the objections, the presidential office signaled it would proceed with the appointment. Sung Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, said in a media interview that Kim "explained himself so well at the hearing that it is hard to point to any flaw or disqualifying reason that would prevent him from serving as head of the agency."