Park's transition team tight-lipped
President-elect Park Geun-hye presides over the first meeting of the transition team at its office in the Korea Banking Institute building in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Monday. Next to Park is head of the team, Kim Yong-jun. / Korea Times photo by Son Yong-seok
President-elect enforces gag order
By Jun Ji-hye
The transition team for President-elect Park Geun-hye has come under growing criticism for being too secretive.
Reporters were told to stick to what they dubbed an outdated style of press control with some saying it seemed as if the team was trying to spoon-feed the media.
No easy access is available to the team members; and those who do speak remain tight-lipped on pending issues.
Critics say that such a measure reflects Park’s reputation of having a lack of communication skills.
It is also in line with “behind-the-curtain” appointments that were criticized by the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP).
Park told her aides to rein in their tongues when they talk to journalists, causing tension to build up between the team and media. Even so she admitted that this alone wouldn’t be able to prevent speculative reporting.
Park said at the team’s first meeting, “Disorderly information release only causes confusion in the public and eventually results in people losing confidence in the new government.”
She cited a press report which said that her administration would establish an independent human resources body to select Cabinet members.
“I heard this speculation in a news report but we have not even discussed it. I hope this kind of thing never happens again in our team,” Park said.
Spokesman Park Sun-kyoo called on journalists to write articles only about what was officially announced by spokespersons, denying press reports regarding Park’s new administration or her next move.
“Some reports said the President-elect is planning to visit the United State in May, but these are not true. Park doesn’t have any plans to visit any countries for now. There are no ongoing talks either,” he said at a briefing, adding that her schedule to visit major nations will be decided later by proper procedures.
The spokesman also cited another news report that said a dispute had flared up between the current and the new governments over the appointment of Prosecutor General, saying “That is also not true.”
“Security” was one of key issues at the first plenary session of the transition team held by Chairman Kim Yong-jun, Sunday.
After the meeting, Kim was quoted by spokesman Yoon Chang-jung as saying, “All team members, including the chairman and deputy chairman, and all office staff have to keep quiet on what they learn while undertaking transition tasks. This rule will continue even after the operation of the team ends.”
Yoon quoted Kim as saying that those who violate the rules, regardless of their positions, will have to take responsibility.
Yoon notified journalists that spokesmen and a spokeswoman will be the only people to communicate with the media.
Although he stressed that such a measure was to prevent any possible confusion, some reporters at the briefing room complained that even the spokespersons don’t answer phone calls.
Rep. Park Beom-kye of the DUP also criticized Park and the team, saying “People are supposed to argue the pros and cons in a democratic society.”