Parties Yet to Agree on Gov’t Reform Bill
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Parties are to hold crucial talks over the weekend to compromise on the government reorganization bill over the weekend as they were unable to iron out their differences Friday.
President-elect Lee Myung-bak is sticking to the principle of a small but efficient government but the United New Democratic Party (UNDP) has been seeking to retain a few ministries, including those for gender equality and maritime and fisheries ministries.
Floor Leader Ahn Sang-soo of the Grand National Party (GNP), the party for President-elect Lee, reported little progress in hammering out a bipartisan consensus on the government downsizing bill.
Angering the UNDP leader Sohn Hak-kyu is the unofficial publication of the Cabinet lineup even before the parties reach a deal on the government reorganization plan.
It is expected that the compromise bill will come out over the weekend. In the worst case, Lee might take an oath of office on Feb.25 without getting approval on his government downsizing plan, making his presidential authority limp even at the start of business.
Lee is scheduled to take part in a workshop to discuss national matters today, however, minister-nominees will not attend the meeting as to not offend the UNDP.
Economists dominate the Cabinet lineup of the incoming administration, indicating that the Lee Myung-bak administration will approach all national issues from an economic perspective.
Most of the minister-nominees billed for appointment by President-elect Lee Myung-bak are known as graduates of Seoul-based prominent universities and in their 60s or older.
Vice Chairman Lee Youn-ho of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) was named to lead the Ministry of Knowledge-based Economy which is expected to undertake business and industrial policies.
Former Korea University President Euh Yoon-dae will head the Human Resources and Science Ministry which is to merge the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development with the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Euh was a member of the central bank's policy-setting Monetary Board and noted for globalizing his alma mater when he headed Korea University. He is expected to promote education policy based on market logic.
Prime minister designate Han Seung-soo has had a colorful political career, serving as minister in both the ministry of foreign affairs and trade and the former ministry of commerce and industry, as well as being the chief of staff for former President Kim Young-sam in the 1990s.
Kang Man-soo, a former vice finance minister, will head the Ministry of Strategic Planning and Finance, the successor to the current Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Kang is an expert on tax affairs and international finance.
Chung Woon-chun, minister nominee of agriculture, fisheries and food, is serving as chairman of the committee of Korea's agriculture CEOs.
Graduates of privileged high schools and universities in Seoul still head the ministries.
Six out of 14 nominees graduated from Seoul National University, which takes up 43 percent of the Cabinet lineup.
Those include South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yoo Myung-hwan and Inha University Professor Lee Young-hee, designated as ministers of foreign affairs and unification and of labor, respectively.
Three figures from Korea University, the alma mater of President-elect, are also nominated for the ministerial post.
Human Resources Minister Nominee Euh and former CEO of Korea Rail Network Authority Chung Jong-hwan who is nominated for minister of homeland and maritime affairs graduated from the school.
The President-elect almost named YWCA Chairwoman Park Eun-kyung who graduated from Seoul-based Ewha Womans University as environment minister.
Four of the nominees graduated from Gyeonggi High School in Seoul of which graduates are taking a lot of key posts in government agencies.
Lee faced backlash when they announced Cheong Wa Dae senior secretaries as most of them are from Lee's alma mater or hometown, Gyeongsang provinces.
Recognizing those criticisms, committee officials stressed that they tried to pick cabinet members evenly among all universities.
Master's degree or doctorate holders of U.S.-based universities are almost half of minister-nominees.
While Euh and Ewha Womans University Professor Kim Sung-yi, nominee of health and welfare minister, obtained a doctorate, Kang and Park received a master's degree in the United States.
Six of seven chief secretaries of the presidential office were Ivy Leaguers.
Of the minister nominees, four including actor Yu In-chon and Euh are former and incumbent professor.
Minister nominees for the Lee administration are older than those of incumbent Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Ten out of 14 minister nominees, were 60s or older.
Kang, Euh and defense minister nominee Lee Sang-hee are 63 and labor minister nominee Lee is 65, the oldest among the nominees.
The youngest is 54-year-old Chung Woon-chun.
The average age of the Cabinet lineup is 61, two years older than that of the Roh administration, but the average age of the senior presidential secretaries appointed last Sunday is 52 years on average.
Some people pointed out that figures from the Gyeongsang region, where the President-elect was brought up tend to take over the ministership as five of the 14 nominees are from the area.
Two are from Seoul and one is from North Pyeongan Province, a district of North Korea.
Gyeonggi, Gangwon, South Chungcheong, North and South Jeolla provinces and Daejeon have one nominee, each.