Park to carry out major reshuffle
By Kim Hyo-jin
President Park Geun-hye waits for Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg for their summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. / Joint press corps
President Park Geun-hye may lean toward reshuffling personnel to turn things around following her party’s humiliating defeat in Wednesday’s general election, analysts said Friday.
The speculation comes as the defeat is also regarded as the public’s judgment on the Park administration dealing with state affairs, as well as the ruling Saenuri Party, raising concerns that she may become an early lame duck.
To weather the difficulties early, Park is expected to replace her staff at Cheong Wa Dae and some Cabinet members to revive the momentum for her administration during her remaining time in office. Her presidency ends in February 2018.
Amid the mounting call for an overhaul of governance, some presidential aides in charge of political affairs offered to resign.
Hyun Ki-hwan, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, and Shin Dong-cheol, a secretary for political affairs, offered to resign and Lee Byung-kee, Park’s chief of staff, was reported to have expressed to his aides his intent to step down.
“Park did not accept their offers, saying it is not the right time yet, as handling the current situation is her priority,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.
However, speculation is rampant that a personnel reshuffle will come soon to regain momentum, considering her remaining term.
“Park cannot risk further damage with no action after the voters’ anger and discontent were evidently expressed in the results of the election,” said Hwang Tae-soon, a political analyst at the Wisdom Center.
“Presidential aides, who are responsible for serving the President at arm’s length, of course, are the first ones to take action. A shake-up at Cheong Wa Dae will come first, considering that a cabinet reshuffle takes time with the process of parliamentary hearings.”
If a cabinet reshuffle follows the presidential office shake-up, speculation is high that her longest-serving aides ― Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Agriculture Minister Lee Dong-phil and Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu ― may be the targets.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers in the ruling Saenuri Party called on the government to reshape its governance structure, expressing discontent at the election’s outcome.
“A common voice is being made in the party that a thorough overhaul should come not only in the party but also in Cheong Wa Dae,” said a lawmaker who wished to remain anonymous.
“It’s hard not to blame Cheong Wa Dae in the wake of this crushing defeat,” another lawmaker said. “Park highlighted that voters should support ‘true Park loyalists,’ fueling a factional feud; and regarding the matter, it’s questionable if her aides, including Lee, served her wisely enough.”
But those in the pro-Park faction did not agree.
“Why should Cheong Wa Dae take responsibility when it was not the subject who conducted the nominations?” a Park loyalist in the party said. “I agree that a reshuffle is needed to control the situation but it doesn’t have to be because of the election results.”