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.
Cabinet shakeup, veto on labor bill looms after Yoon's overseas trips
President Yoon Suk Yeol enters a banquet hall at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday, for a luncheon with scientists. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
At least 10 ministers likely to be replaced
After two weeks of diplomatic events, President Yoon Suk Yeol faces daunting domestic tasks, including a Cabinet shake-up and the vetoing of bills unilaterally passed in the National Assembly by the opposition.
Yoon is now drafting the new Cabinet, as a massive exodus of ministers is expected before the general elections in April next year.
Sources close to Yoon said the shake-up may come early next month, and involve at least 10 ministers.
Attention has turned to who will replace Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, an outspoken former prosecutor who has swayed domestic politics recently with appearances in conservative strongholds.
Though Han is yet to announce his bid to run in the general elections, a number of figures are reportedly on the screening list, including Park Seong-jae, former chief of the Seoul High Court, and Ghil Tae-ki, a managing partner of law firm Lee and Ko.
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon receives flowers from his supporters during a visit to Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Ulsan, Friday. Yonhap
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho is also anticipated to leave his office for the general elections. Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok is mentioned as Choo’s successor.
Foreign Minister Park Jin is also rumored to be resigning from his election bid, with his potential successors including Lee Chung-min, the ministry’s former ambassador for international security affairs, and Lee Shin-hwa, the ministry’s ambassador on North Korean human rights issues.
Also, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is rumored to be replaced by Sim Kyo-eon, president of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements.
Minister of Patriots and Veteran Affairs Park Min-shik; Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Young; Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan and Minister of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs Chung Hwang-keun are widely expected to leave office for the elections.
If a sweeping shake-up takes place in the Cabinet, a political conflict with the opposition over the nominees’ confirmation hearings is seen as inevitable.
On Saturday, President Yoon appointed new Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo, without obtaining a confirmation report approved by both parties from the National Assembly.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accused Kim of trading stocks during working hours and playing golf while North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. There was also an allegation that Kim's daughter was involved in a school bullying case 11 years ago.
As Kim became the 20th person appointed by Yoon to a minister-level post without gaining a confirmation report, concerns are growing over a vicious cycle of the DPK opposing Yoon’s appointee and the president defending him.
Members of a civic group of senior citizens hold banners to urge President Yoon Suk Yeol to promulgate the so-called yellow envelope bill during a rally in front of the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Nov. 21. Yonhap
Along with the Cabinet shake-up, Yoon is contemplating the timing of his veto on a pro-labor bill unilaterally passed by the majority-holding DPK, better known as the yellow envelope bill.
The bill, which passed the Assembly on Nov. 9, will legally allow workers to strike over any workplace issue without government intervention or legal action. Labor groups are hailing it. Businesses are calling on Yoon to veto it.
The ruling People Power Party has already requested Yoon veto the bill, while the labor ministry is also expressing strong concerns over the potential impacts of the bill.
According to multiple sources at the presidential office, Yoon is poised to use his right to send the bill back to the Assembly and is expected to announce this no later than the Dec. 2 deadline.
If Yoon vetoes the bill, the administration’s conflict with labor groups will deepen. Recently, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, one of the countries’ two largest umbrella unions, returned to the Economic, Social & Labor Council — an official dialogue channel between the government and labor. But a veto will likely bring the reconciliation into jeopardy.
The veto would be the third case of Yoon rejecting a controversial bill passed unilaterally by the DPK. Yoon vetoed a Grain Management Act revision in April and a new nursing act in May.