Park urged to change governing style
By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye
President Park Geun-hye faces mounting pressure to change the way she governs, after she forced Saenuri Party floor leader Yoo Seong-min to quit Wednesday.
Critics say that her style is too authoritative, and therefore prone to sparking another factional feud within the ruling party.
Rep. Yoo quit after Park forced him out for “betraying her” by pushing a bipartisan bill in May to empower the National Assembly to review government ordinances.
“President Park has been under fire for her authoritative governing style since taking office in February 2013, but she has failed to change it on the back of her loyal supporters,” said Chung Goon-gi, a professor of Hongik University. “What is worse, her aides have not advised her to change her attitude.”
Former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon was condemned because he was not forthright with the President and his replacement, Lee Byung-kee, has regrettably followed suit, the professor added.
Bae Jong-chan, the chief director at political pollster Research and Research, said that Park’s top-down leadership is due to a “lack of preparation for the presidency.”
“From the transition period, Park failed to formulate systems conducive to the presidency, resulting in brouhahas about her appointments of Cabinet members, many of whom withdrew for ethical lapses before their confirmation hearing,” he said.
“Her unpreparedness has led Park to have her own way in leading the nation.”
Since senior presidential secretary for political affairs Cho Yoon-sun stepped down on May 18, the post has been vacant thus far, which some believe is one of the reasons for the stand-off between Park and Yoo.
However, Park has shown little sign of finding a replacement.
Despite the importance of the position — a mediator between the government and National Assembly — Park has diminished the role of political affairs secretary, appointing a lifetime diplomat and a less-influential politician.
“Park has yet to name a new political affairs secretary because there is no one who satisfies the President, which is arrogant,” Chung said. “Park’s mindset that does not care if the secretary is in her office is not befitting that of a head of state.”
With Yoo quitting, the chilly relationship between Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party may be repaired, but Park’s attitude, shown in the removal of the floor leader, has left room for another in-house conflict between those loyal to her and non-mainstream members.
“As early as next week, the two sides can be engaged in another fight, if a non-mainstream member fills the vacancy,” Bae said.
“In February next year, the nominations for the April 13 general election can bring out a factional feud, as well.”