Opposition parties raised the pressure on President Moon Jae-in's pick for venture minister to withdraw Tuesday, amid escalating controversy over his past remarks and self-contradictory behavior.

SMEs and startups ministerial nominee Hong Jong-haak has been under fire for his family's inheritance of wealth from his mother-in-law and his daughter's enrollment at an expensive elite school -- acts that he previously criticized.

The former professor and lawmaker has also taken much flak for his 1998 book, which apparently disparaged those who did not graduate from top-tier universities, and his past comments harshly critical of family-run conglomerates. 

"The nominee is the ultimate in hypocrisy. ... He appears to have shown a dual personality by performing acts, without hesitation, that are unthinkable for ordinary citizens," Kim Dong-cheol, the floor leader of the minor opposition People's Party, said during a party meeting.

"I am aghast that he has been pursuing special privileges and allowing the passing down of wealth, when the venture minister should spearhead the structural reform of the market and foster fairness in our economy," he added.

The hearing for Hong is set for Nov. 10. His appointment does not require parliamentary consent, but disapproval could impose a political burden on the president, particularly after his previous nominee for the venture minister withdrew amid disputes over his religious and historical views.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party also pressed Hong to voluntarily give up his nomination, stressing he is "not in line with public sentiment."

"Nominee Hong is a champion of self-contradiction," Chung Woo-taik, the LKP floor leader, said, referring to his family's property inheritance despite his past argument that the country has to seek higher tax rates to curb large wealth transfers.

Hong has reported to the government that his family had a total of 4.95 billion won ($43.7 million) in assets in 2016, up from 2.17 billion won reported in 2012. The assets include those his teenage daughter inherited from her grandmother in 2015.

Hong's aides said that all the gains were legitimate and the relevant taxes were paid.

Denouncing the presidential office's nominee vetting process again, the LKP whip demanded Moon apologize for the "fiasco" and have his secretaries in charge of the personnel management take responsibility.

The opposition bloc's attacks escalated after it was found that Hong's daughter attends an elite middle school northeast of Seoul, where the annual tuition fee can amount to 15 million won ($13,372).

While working for Moon's election campaign policy team, Hong called for scrapping elite high schools. (Yonhap)