Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Lawmaker blames Park for lack of communication
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ha Tae-keung
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ha Tae-keung, a first-term lawmaker of the governing Saenuri Party, said Tuesday that President Park Geun-hye’s lack of communication with her aides, as well as the public, has been accelerating the controversy over the “memogate” political fiasco.
“People involved with the scandal are telling different stories. This shows that Park and her aides haven’t had sufficient conversation,” Ha told The Korea Times. “A fundamental reason for deepening controversy and criticism over the presidential office is low transparency in managing state affairs and lack of communication.”
He added, “Park herself matters the most. Her fault is worse than that of those involved, including her Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon.”
The political scandal centers on a leaked internal document from the presidential office. It indicates that Park’s former aide, Jeong Yun-hoe, meddled in state affairs and was engaged in a power struggle with Park Ji-man, her younger brother. The document said Jeong asked Cheong Wa Dae officials to oust Kim Ki-choon from the position.
Ha was among seven rookie lawmakers of the governing camp who gathered early this week to discuss the issue involving the leaked document. The other six were Reps. Ahn Hyo-dae, Cho Hae-jin, Lee No-keun, Yi Wan-young, Park In-sook and Seo Yong-gyo.
After the meeting, the first- and second-term lawmakers claimed, though the leaked memoranda seems to have little credibility, Park and her government should take the lingering controversy as an opportunity to reform their way of managing state affairs and appointing personnel.
As measures to enhance communication, they called on Park to receive reports from her aides in person rather than doing it through documents, increase the frequency of official meetings with presidential secretaries and ministers, and hold more frequent news conferences.
Other suggestions included holding regular meetings with ministers and a representative of the governing party.
They also said Park needs to refrain from utilizing Cabinet meetings as tools to deliver messages about pending issues to the public, as that allows for only one-sided communication, not two-way interaction.
“To enhance transparency in appointing personnel, Park needs to open up to the public who recommends whom,” Ha added.
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