Justice minister, prosecutor general nominees face hearing in early August

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- The ruling and opposition parties agreed on Thursday to hold confirmation hearings for justice minister and chief prosecutor nominees in early August, officials said. The confirmation hearing for Prosecutor General nominee Han Sang-dae is set for Aug. 4, while Justice Minister nominee Kwon Jae-jin will be grilled by lawmakers in a separate hearing slated for Aug. 8, said the officials. Han, the incumbent head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, has been dogged by allegations of draft dodging and real estate speculation since President Lee Myung-bak nominated him as the new top prosecutor last week. Kwon's confirmation hearing is expected to focus on the controversy over his current position as a senior presidential secretary on civil affairs.