By Jun Ji-hye
Kim Jeong-hoon, the nominee to head the newly-created Ministry of Future Creative Science, is embroiled in disputes over his dual citizenship.
Born in 1960 in Seoul, Kim moved to the United States in 1975 and acquired American citizenship.
As he regained his Korean nationality three days before the nomination, he now has dual nationality.
As there are no laws banning foreigners from being appointed to ministerial posts, the nomination holds no legal problems. Under the Public Official Law, foreigners are banned from being appointed to top posts related to national security and from having access to state secrets.
Is he an American who speaks Korean well or a global talent who has the experience and the expertise in science and technology?
Critics say he is inappropriate to lead the ministry that has to protect the national interest as he has lived in the United Stated as an American for about 30 years. Others say he is just as qualified as he achieved success in the information and communications technology field.
Kim, president of Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs and Corporate Strategy, said he already signed a document renouncing his U.S. citizenship, adding that his family will remain as Americans.
Kim has to pay high price to the U.S for his decision to give up his American citizenship. Analysts estimated this would be about 100 billion won ($93 million).
"I want to stress that, if I am finally appointed as minister, I am ready to do my best for Korea's national interest," he said.
However, the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) is taking issue with his national identity, saying, "He is just an American who speaks Korean well."
It claims that Kim, who has lived as a foreigner for a long time, is not suitable to deal with the nation's communications security in the ministry.
Fresh controversy over his identity rose Wednesday, after it was revealed that he had said, when recalling his seven-year service as a U.S. naval officer, "Serving in uniform was a rite of passage in becoming a full-fledged American."
The remarks were published in the U.S. naval magazine "Proceedings" in December 2011.
Critics raised another issue over the multimillionaire's connection to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), questioning whether because of this Kim is qualified for the role of overseeing core national assets.
Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the leftist Unified Progressive Party said, "Kim worked for the CIA-funded investment firm In-Q-Tel in 1999 as well as serving as a consultant for the intelligence agency in 2009."
Regarding the issue, Kim said that his career is not grounds for disqualification as he just provided consultation on security matters as a nonpermanent commissioner.
The Federation of Korean Associations (FKA), composed of over 2.5 millions overseas Koreans in the U.S., slammed the opposition's argument as outdated and vulgar. It warned it will strongly respond against any politician who brings Kim's nationality into question in the National Assembly confirmation hearings.
"These days, people, whose skin color is different from our ancestors, are serving as top rank officers. Criticism against Kim is nothing more than outdated anti-American sentiment," Yu Jin-chul, president of the FKA, said to reporters.
Experts say the controversy over Kim's nationality and identity is understandable as the ministry is related to information security that will affect nation's economy.
However, they add his capability of leading the ministry should not be limited by such an issue.
"Changing nationality is a hard choice. He decided to change his nationality to become Korean to lead the nation's ministry. Credit for trying should be given to him. To criticize and devalue his personal ability simply because of his dual nationality is just too much," said Ju Chang-bum, a public administration professor at Dongguk University.
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| Kim Jeong-hoon, Future Creative Science Minister nominee |
Born in 1960 in Seoul, Kim moved to the United States in 1975 and acquired American citizenship.
As he regained his Korean nationality three days before the nomination, he now has dual nationality.
As there are no laws banning foreigners from being appointed to ministerial posts, the nomination holds no legal problems. Under the Public Official Law, foreigners are banned from being appointed to top posts related to national security and from having access to state secrets.
Is he an American who speaks Korean well or a global talent who has the experience and the expertise in science and technology?
Critics say he is inappropriate to lead the ministry that has to protect the national interest as he has lived in the United Stated as an American for about 30 years. Others say he is just as qualified as he achieved success in the information and communications technology field.
Kim, president of Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs and Corporate Strategy, said he already signed a document renouncing his U.S. citizenship, adding that his family will remain as Americans.
Kim has to pay high price to the U.S for his decision to give up his American citizenship. Analysts estimated this would be about 100 billion won ($93 million).
"I want to stress that, if I am finally appointed as minister, I am ready to do my best for Korea's national interest," he said.
However, the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) is taking issue with his national identity, saying, "He is just an American who speaks Korean well."
It claims that Kim, who has lived as a foreigner for a long time, is not suitable to deal with the nation's communications security in the ministry.
Fresh controversy over his identity rose Wednesday, after it was revealed that he had said, when recalling his seven-year service as a U.S. naval officer, "Serving in uniform was a rite of passage in becoming a full-fledged American."
The remarks were published in the U.S. naval magazine "Proceedings" in December 2011.
Critics raised another issue over the multimillionaire's connection to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), questioning whether because of this Kim is qualified for the role of overseeing core national assets.
Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the leftist Unified Progressive Party said, "Kim worked for the CIA-funded investment firm In-Q-Tel in 1999 as well as serving as a consultant for the intelligence agency in 2009."
Regarding the issue, Kim said that his career is not grounds for disqualification as he just provided consultation on security matters as a nonpermanent commissioner.
The Federation of Korean Associations (FKA), composed of over 2.5 millions overseas Koreans in the U.S., slammed the opposition's argument as outdated and vulgar. It warned it will strongly respond against any politician who brings Kim's nationality into question in the National Assembly confirmation hearings.
"These days, people, whose skin color is different from our ancestors, are serving as top rank officers. Criticism against Kim is nothing more than outdated anti-American sentiment," Yu Jin-chul, president of the FKA, said to reporters.
Experts say the controversy over Kim's nationality and identity is understandable as the ministry is related to information security that will affect nation's economy.
However, they add his capability of leading the ministry should not be limited by such an issue.
"Changing nationality is a hard choice. He decided to change his nationality to become Korean to lead the nation's ministry. Credit for trying should be given to him. To criticize and devalue his personal ability simply because of his dual nationality is just too much," said Ju Chang-bum, a public administration professor at Dongguk University.
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