Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Partisan bickering intensifies over two lawmakers
Rep. Shim, new education minister in hot seat over controversy
By Lee Min-hyung
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae
By Lee Min-hyung
Rep. Shim Jae-cheol of Liberty Korea Party
The political circle is devolving yet again into a vortex of mudslinging and excessive politicking, this time over two political figures, heralding do-or-die fights at legislative audits scheduled to start next week.
On Tuesday, President Moon Jae-in appointed ruling party lawmaker Yoo Eun-hae as the nation's new education minister and deputy prime minister for social affairs despite fierce criticism from opposition parties.
After she was nominated as the education chief last month, the opposition parties claimed she was unqualified to lead the nation's education system because of ethical issues. In particular, she was under fire for the false registration of her daughter's home address in an apparent move to have the child admitted to a better school.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) took issue with the President's comments during her appointment ceremony.
“President Moon said there is an old saying that those who face setbacks during a confirmation hearing do a better job when carrying out their duties,” LKP spokesman Lee Yang-soo said Wednesday.
“His remark shows that the presidential house does not have any interest in checking morality and the law-abiding spirit for the education minister,” Lee said. “We express regret over the presidential house's arrogant attitude.”
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), however, claimed that there were no legal problems against her taking office.
In an apparent move to counter the LKP's political attack, the ruling party is stepping up its criticism of Rep. Shim Jae-cheol of the LKP for his alleged access to confidential government budget data without authorization.
The lawmaker and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon were at verbal loggerheads on Tuesday during the National Assembly's interpellation session.
Last week, Shim raised an allegation that the presidential house has spent 240 million won ($214,000) in what he claimed were “improper” operational expenses since May 2017 when the Moon administration took power.
But the presidential house and the finance minister reacted against Shim's claim, saying that the expense was not used for illegal purposes. Kim also raised suspicions over how Shim took the confidential data.
“Both sides are making contradictory claims over whether the data was taken via illegal routes, so it is better for judicial authorities to ascertain the truth,” Kim said. Shim is in a position as a lawmaker to take the responsibility to look into how taxpayer money is spent.
Amid the escalating controversy, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance filed lawsuits against Shim and his secretaries last month.
With the disputes showing no signs of subsiding, the Assembly is expected to continue facing setbacks in handling a series of pending bills scheduled for this year.
On Monday, the Assembly's finance committee failed to hold a general meeting, with rival parties boycotting their participation due largely to the ongoing political battle surrounding Shim's allegation.
The partisan battle came at a critical time when the Assembly should also deal with bills aimed at enhancing reconciliatory inter-Korean relations. In particular, the rival parties should join hands to hold the first-ever inter-Korean legislative meeting.