Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Deepening partisan battle heightens political gridlock 6 months ahead of general elections
New Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the ministry in Yongsan District, Saturday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense
By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon approves new ministers despite DPK's opposition
A partisan battle between the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is intensifying, as the president turned a blind eye to the DPK’s objections in appointing new ministers, while the majority-holding opposition is threatening to boycott what it calls “inappropriate” nominations made by the president.
With six months left before voters elect new lawmakers in general elections, concerns are growing that the intensifying standoff will lead to a political gridlock.
On Saturday, President Yoon Suk Yeol approved the appointments of new Cabinet officials ― Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and new Culture Minister Yoo In-chon ― snubbing the DPK’s objections against them voiced during recent confirmation hearings.
Shin, a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been facing criticism from the opposition due to his right-leaning remarks in the past. The National Assembly did not adopt a confirmation report for Shin.
Yoo, who is a special presidential adviser for culture and sports and served as the culture minister from 2008 to 2011 under the Lee Myung-bak administration, saw his confirmation report adopted by the Assembly. But the report ended up containing contradicting opinions over his suitability as the minister.
The presidential office said Yoon approved the appointments as the new ministers need time to prepare for the annual parliamentary audit set to kick off Tuesday.
The DPK expressed anger over the appointments.
“We are speechless about the president’s arrogance and stubbornness, as he goes ahead with the candidates whose inappropriateness were clearly revealed during their confirmation hearings,” DPK senior spokesperson Rep. Kwon Chil-seung said Saturday.
Yoon’s appointment came a day after the Assembly rejected Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong. It was the first time in 35 years that lawmakers rejected a Supreme Court chief justice nominee. Lee's nomination was crushed in a 118-175 vote, after the DPK made it a party guideline to reject him.
Unlike ministers, a chief justice’s appointment requires the Assembly's consent, which means Yoon has to find a new candidate again and the Supreme Court will operate without a head for months. Without a chief justice, the top court cannot hold sessions to review sensitive and important cases before all of the judges.
With the presidential office expressing regret over the rejections, DPK floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo said Saturday that “all responsibility lies with the president” and “even if Yoon sends a third or fourth unqualified individual, we will vote against them.”
Seen above is an empty seat of the gender minister nominee at a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Nominee Kim Haeng abruptly walked out of the hearing to protest the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's criticism of her qualifications for the post. Yonhap
Gender equality minister nominee Kim Haeng is facing similar problems. The rival parties are locking horns after the nominee walked out of her confirmation hearing on Friday, casting uncertainties over whether the Assembly will be able to adopt a confirmation report.
If Yoon goes ahead with Kim’s appointment, she will be the 19th minister that the president appointed without a confirmation report
The partisan battle is anticipated to intensify as the Assembly begins the annual parliamentary audit this week. The annual audits have served as a chance for the rival political parties to escalate offensives against each other and sway voter sentiment.
Against this backdrop, the outlook remains gloomy over the approval of pending bills. After rejecting the chief justice’s nomination on Friday, the Assembly belatedly approved 88 backlogged bills, such as one allowing birth registrations without disclosing a mother’s name or another one authorizing mugshots of serious crime suspects to be made public.
However, there are other bills pending at the Assembly. One of them is a special act on establishing the Korea Aerospace Administration, which was tabled by the government in April, but its approval delayed due to disagreements over the scope of its functions.
The DPK is also seeking to unilaterally table the so-called yellow envelope bill, which limits companies from demanding compensation from labor unions that stage strikes. Yoon has already dropped hints at vetoing that bill.
“The vicious cycle of the DPK rejecting the president’s nominations and Yoon countering by vetoing the DPK’s unilateral legislations will likely continue until the general elections slated for April next year, resulting in the country’s politics grinding to a standstill and being helpless in addressing economic difficulties,” a Seoul-based former lawmaker said.
Ruling People Power Party lawmakers exit from a National Assembly plenary session on Friday, after the Assembly, buoyed by majority-holding main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, rejected President Yoon Suk Yeol's nomination of Lee Gyun-ryong for Supreme Court chief justice. Yonhap
Against this backdrop, Yoon’s job approval rating also inched down, apparently due to concerns over the economy and rising living costs.
According to an Oct. 4 to 6 survey by Rnsearch, 38.9 percent of 1,009 respondents said Yoon is doing a good job, down 1.1 percentage points from a week earlier. Skeptical respondents stood at 58.8 percent, up 1.4 percentage points during the same period.
Rnsearch said the result appears to represent growing public concerns over consumer prices which were felt during the Chuseok holidays. The survey was requested by broadcaster CBS and further information is available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.