President presses ahead with appointments
By Kim Tae-gyu
Park Geun-hye
Despite strong objections from the opposition parties, President Park Geun-hye appointed two leaders for the newly-established ministries for science and maritime affairs, Wednesday.
From Park’s perspective, the moves completed the formation of her Cabinet ― 52 days after her Feb. 25 inauguration. But from the viewpoint of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP), the steps were deemed unacceptable.
The DUP has been opposed to the appointments of Yoon Jin-sook at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Choi Mun-kee at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.
The two failed to win National Assembly approval because they failed to satisfy DUP lawmakers, who claimed that both were unfit for the jobs due to the lack of understanding on their mandates.
Even some members of the governing Saenuri Party took issue with their seemingly insufficient working skills to spearhead the two significant ministries responsible for achieving Park’s campaign pledges.
President Park is allowed to appoint ministers even if the National Assembly does not adopt approval reports after hearings on candidates. While the confirmation hearings are required their findings are not binding.
“Park needs the cooperation of the DUP at a time when North Korea is continuing its missile and nuclear threats, and the government is seeking a supplementary budget,” a Seoul analyst said.
The government wants an extra budget amounting to 17.3 trillion won as Asia’s No. 4 economy is failing to overcome the economic slump. The execution of this needs parliamentary approval.
Yoon, an oceanographer, failed to answer most questions during her hearing where she was criticized for her “insincere attitude.” Asked simple queries, she even giggled without answering them.
While taking office Wednesday, Yoon said that she will put forth her best efforts.
“Amid the launch of the new administration and its reorganization, there were a host of difficulties. But I am thankful for those who work hard in the midst of the troubles,” Yoon said in an inaugural speech.
“I will try hard to make the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries a place filled with creativity and imagination. I am very grad to work as the head of the ministry together with you.”
In the case of Choi, a life-time researcher, he angered lawmakers who asked him to clarify the concept of a “creative economy” as the science ministry is in charge of achieving this goal.
A creative economy is President Park’s major campaign pledge geared toward increasing national output and creating decent jobs through technological innovation and venture investment.
Choi came up with just a rhetorical explanation of the concept without offering detailed and concrete plans on how to attain a creative economy. He was also suspected of involvement in real estate speculation.
These prompted DUP members not to give the nod to Choi, the replacement of former Bell Labs head Kim Jeong-hoon, who withdrew due to the parliamentary deadlock on the government reorganization bill.
The two nominees have come under growing pressure to step down but Park pushed ahead with appointing them, incurring the resentment of the DUP. She said that Yoon has enough knowledge about her work but was too nervous to properly answer the questions of lawmakers during the hearing.
“The appointment of Yoon is the climax of Park’s personnel disasters. We warn that Park has created a source of future troubles,” DUP floor leader Park Ki-choon said.
Meanwhile, Park also appointed Chae Dong-wook as prosecutor general and Lee Kyeong-jae as head of the Korea Communications Commission.