ED Lee needs critics, not yes-men, around him
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during an event held in the presidential office in Seoul, Aug. 28. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
Justice minister nominee faces severe repercussion
President Lee Jae Myung’s reshuffle of six Cabinet ministers was necessary. In fact, he seemed to have little choice but to replace some of the ministers, who were responsible for policy blunders that dragged down his approval ratings.
The circumstances Lee faced justified the shakeup. His administration’s controversial housing policies and property tax measures have drawn the ire of the public. His declining job approval ratings are a direct consequence of unpopular policies and growing public dissatisfaction.
As Lee entered his second year in office, he must have felt the need for a fresh start. Fresh wine deserves a fresh wineskin. Replacing Cabinet members responsible for policy failures — and, consequently, worsening public opinion — could help Lee win back the public’s confidence.
In this sense, replacing Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back was the right choice. Ahn faced allegations that he had deserted his post during his military service in the 1980s. Despite his denials, his explanation was not convincing enough to quell suspicions. Tens of thousands of people signed a petition calling for his dismissal and submitted it to the National Assembly.
The justice ministry post has been vacant since Rep. Jung Sung-ho resigned after the passage of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act in the National Assembly. Jung had been a critic of the measure, which was designed to strip the prosecution of its authority to supervise police investigations in criminal cases. After the National Assembly passed the amendment, Jung expressed deep frustration and offered to resign several times. He said there was little he could do to remedy the situation, signaling his desire to return to the National Assembly as a lawmaker.
Lee eventually accepted Jung’s resignation and nominated Rep. Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to succeed him as justice minister.
The nomination, however, raised eyebrows.
Within the DPK, Kim is regarded as a hardliner and staunch loyalist to Lee. A judge turned politician, Kim is one of the key figures behind an initiative calling for the dismissal of indictments against Lee. About 100 DPK lawmakers joined the movement. Lee faced several legal battles, all of which were suspended when he was elected president last year. Kim has described Lee as a victim of politically motivated prosecution and urged the dismissal of all charges.
As might be expected, Lee’s nomination of Kim to lead the Ministry of Justice has backfired. Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), said Lee tapped someone who could well seek to dismiss the charges against him. As the PPP leader pointed out, appointing Kim as justice minister could create a serious conflict of interest. Lee should reconsider the nomination.
To successfully complete his presidential term, Lee needs to surround himself with aides who can offer constructive criticism, not people who flatter him or try to curry favor with him.
Lee is reeling from the fallout of policy failures.
The latest Realmeter poll shows just how serious his declining approval rating has become. The survey, conducted Aug. 24 to 28 and released Monday, found that Lee’s job approval rating had fallen to an all-time low of 38.9 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous week. Meanwhile, 58.9 percent of respondents disapproved of his job performance. The weekly survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Realmeter attributed Lee’s declining ratings to several factors, including his unpopular housing policies, his rejection of one of two Supreme Court justice candidates recommended by the chief justice, and a credibility crisis facing the police amid a series of recent homicide and missing person cases.
Unpopular policies and homeowners’ grievances over layers of regulations and higher property taxes are not the only reasons for Lee’s falling approval ratings. His personnel choices also matter. Lee should put the right people in the right positions. Otherwise, his presidency could suffer the consequences.
Ultimately, Lee’s success will depend in large part on the people he chooses to fill key positions. He needs officials who will challenge him when necessary.