ED New wine in old bottles

President Lee Jae Myung, second from left, presides over the Cabinet meeting held on Saturday at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. Yonhap

More than a month has passed since Lee Jae Myung was sworn in as South Korea’s new president on June 4. Yet, it hardly feels like a new administration has begun — largely because Lee’s Cabinet still consists of old faces. Except for Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, all current Cabinet ministers were appointed by Lee’s predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol.

This rare coexistence of officials from both the former and new administrations has produced an unusual dynamic. In Cabinet meetings held since Lee’s inauguration, the new president was briefed on key national issues by ministers chosen by the former president — and then tasked those same ministers with implementing the new administration’s policy agenda.

The prolonged delay in confirmation hearings at the National Assembly is primarily to blame for this awkward situation. While Lee has finalized his Cabinet nominations, the Assembly has yet to set a schedule for confirmation hearings. Though these hearings are not binding, they are a legal prerequisite: The president cannot proceed with appointments until the hearings are held.

The National Assembly must act swiftly to begin confirmation hearings, allowing lawmakers to thoroughly evaluate the nominees’ professional competence and ethical integrity. Only then can Lee move forward with official appointments and start executing his policy agenda in earnest.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik raised the issue on Sunday during a meeting between the administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). He expressed concern over the continued delays, saying, “I’m afraid that nothing will be predictable if the parliamentary process is stalled, preventing President Lee from appointing his Cabinet.” He urged DPK lawmakers to understand the administration’s position and expedite the confirmation process.

Kang’s appeal is justified.

From the outset, the Lee Jae Myung administration faced a difficult path in forming a Cabinet of its own. Unlike previous governments, which typically enjoyed a two-month transition period, presidents elected through snap elections often struggle to establish a new Cabinet quickly. For instance, President Lee Myung-bak, who won a landslide victory in the 2007 election and took office in February 2008, completed his Cabinet appointments in just 17 days. In contrast, Moon Jae-in — who assumed office in 2017 following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye — took 195 days to finalize his Cabinet.

If the National Assembly fails to expedite the confirmation process, President Lee may face similar hurdles in getting his administration off the ground.

The prolonged delay in appointing Cabinet ministers is becoming a major obstacle for newly elected Lee — especially as he faces difficult geopolitical challenges.

Chief among these is arranging a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. More than a month after Lee’s victory in the June 3 presidential election, no details have been confirmed about a meeting between the two leaders. The absence of any announcement about a Korea-U.S. summit is both rare and unusual, fueling speculation and rumors about the current state of Seoul-Washington relations.

One of the figures expected to facilitate diplomatic coordination with Washington is the foreign minister. However, the current foreign minister, Cho Tae-yul, is a holdover from the previous administration. This undermines his credibility as an effective intermediary, as officials in Washington are likely to be hesitant to engage closely with someone who is soon to be replaced.

This dynamic was apparent during Lee’s recent trip to the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada. Instead of Foreign Minister Cho, Lee was accompanied by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac — a trusted aide personally appointed by the president. The decision reflects Lee’s preference for working with his own team, particularly on matters of strategic importance.

A Cabinet composed of officials from the previous administration cannot be expected to fully serve the vision and goals of the new president. For the good of the nation, Lee must be allowed to begin his term with a clean slate and a Cabinet of his choosing. As the old saying goes, “new wine should be put into new wineskins." The president must have the right people in place to carry out his agenda — and he should be held accountable for the outcomes.