Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Park Jin likely to retain FM post amid Cabinet reshuffle
Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during a briefing at the foreign ministry building in Seoul, March 6. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hun
By Lee Hyo-jin
By Lee Hyo-jin
The future of Foreign Minister Park Jin ― whether he would retain his ministerial position or return to the National Assembly ― is drawing keen attention in diplomatic circles here as President Yoon Suk Yeol mulls another Cabinet reshuffle.
However, Park is unlikely to be replaced in the near future due to tough competition in the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) candidacy nomination and President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval of the top diplomat's performance in office, according to political sources, Thursday.
Yoon, who went on a weeklong summer vacation from Wednesday, is expected to replace some of his ministers after he returns so as to tighten his grip on state affairs.
While details of the Cabinet lineup change remain unknown, some speculate that the foreign minister, who is a four-term PPP lawmaker might be on the list, especially after Yoon recently replaced the unification minister in an apparent signal to refresh his foreign policies.
In a wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle carried out in late June, Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho replaced his predecessor Kwon Young-se. Kwon, a four-term lawmaker of the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP) is now expected to play a key role in the upcoming general election slated for April 10, 2024.
Speculations rose that Park, who is also a political heavyweight of the ruling party, would also be contemplating returning to the National Assembly as his party gears up for the general election.
Park, who is a four-term lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), would face a tough bid in the party's candidacy nomination, if he were to run for re-election in next year's parliamentary race representing his Gangnam-B district. The affluent Gangnam district has traditionally been the conservative camp's home turf, and thus a popular constituency among PPP candidates.
“It may be too early to talk about whether Park can be nominated, but there are a lot of politicians wanting to run in the Gangnam district. The constituency guarantees an easy win, and I'm not sure if the party would give it to Park,” said a political source with knowledge of the matter, Thursday.
The source commented that chances might be slim for Park to secure the Gangnam constituency.
Moreover, Park is deemed a credible minister by the president, according to the source, making it less likely for Yoon to replace the foreign minister.
Kim Yeoul-soo, chief of the Security Strategy Office at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, viewed that at this point of time, there is little reason for the Yoon administration to replace the top diplomat who is doing well in his job.
“Park has done very well in carrying out the foreign policy goals of the incumbent government. “In particular, he has played a key role in strengthening relations with the U.S. and Japan,” he said.
“He has also demonstrated his diplomatic skills when it comes relations with China by representing national interests and maintaining healthy relationships with the neighboring nation,” Kim added. “And considering that there are some major diplomatic events such as the trilateral summit with the U.S. and Japan, it would be best for the minister to keep his position for the continuity of policies.”