In his opposition days, President Moon Jae-in criticized conservative leaders for placing their cronies in the top posts of state enterprises and public organizations. Barely eight months into office, Moon has come under fire for precisely the same reason _ making “parachute appointments” or “code appointments.”
For instance, the Moon administration nominated aides to the late President Roh Moo-hyun as outside directors for KT, a telecom company. It also recommended another ranking official under the Roh government as the CEO of POSCO Energy. The unions of KT&G and some state-run banks are taking issue with the parachuting in of former campaign workers and others who helped Moon win the election.
It is understandable any president would want to work with people who share their political ideas and principles. However, two crucial criteria for selecting the CEOs of state firms should be managerial expertise and political independence.
The same can be said of outside directors who have to check and balance top management. That explains why private enterprises, here and abroad, are ushering in foreigners and women as outside directors to reflect their diverse views on operations. Bringing in people just because they have the same political view or “code” could prove to be harmful to the company’s competitive edge and its shareholders’ interests.
There are even rumors the Moon administration is trying to fill up to 10,000 key posts with progressives to change the “ideological inclination” of public organizations and state enterprises.
Liberals might say corrupt conservatives who have messed up the management of public institutions should step down, and progressives should replace them. Again, however, what matters is their ability and integrity, progressive or conservative. There can be corrupt progressives and clean conservatives.
Changes, let alone reforms, are impossible as long as ideological rivals repeat the mistakes of each other under various pretexts. Korea cannot end crony capitalism without the self-sacrifice of one side _ less corrupt and more patriotic. We hope the Moon administration will set such an example.