ED Possible perils of cronyism

Rep. Kang Sun-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea speaks during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, July 14. Yonhap

Nominations can make or break a newly inaugurated government. This truth is especially relevant for President Lee Jae Myung, whose seemingly controversial appointments have begun to backfire.

Lee’s contrasting decisions regarding two embattled Cabinet minister nominees have raised eyebrows among political observers. On Sunday, he withdrew his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, for education minister. However, he remains determined to appoint another contentious nominee, Rep. Kang Sun-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), despite serious ethical concerns revealed during last week’s confirmation hearing.

The two nominees came under fire for different reasons. Lee Jin-sook stands accused of pervasive plagiarism — a grave offense that undermines not only academic integrity but also the qualifications necessary for an education minister. Last week’s confirmation hearing confirmed she is unfit for the Cabinet role. Some lawmakers expressed doubts about her professionalism, noting she was unfamiliar with key educational policies and incapable of responding adequately to lawmakers’ questions.

Meanwhile, Kang Sun-woo, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, was scrutinized for alleged misconduct. Former aides described her as an abusive and toxic boss, citing instances of mistreatment. According to media reports, she asked her aides to perform personal errands, such as checking her toilet flush and disposing of leftover food waste. She also allegedly bullied staff by excluding them from group chats.

The president’s responses to these controversies were starkly different. He withdrew Lee’s nomination but left Kang’s appointment intact, prompting questions about his standards for misconduct. Is abuse of power considered less serious than plagiarism?

The answer should be no. Abuse of power is just as damaging as plagiarism. Those guilty of plagiarism should never lead the Ministry of Education, and likewise, those who mistreat their staff are unfit to head the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. As some lawmakers pointed out during Kang’s confirmation hearing, this ministry addresses issues affecting various minorities, including women and marriage immigrants. How can someone who treats aides as personal servants rather than public officials effectively understand or advocate for marginalized groups and their rights, and implement appropriate policies?

President Lee must reconsider his decision to appoint Kang as minister of gender equality and family. His controversial nominations will backfire and ultimately do a disservice to his administration.

But his questionable decisions continued. Lee’s nominations of two rumormongers on Sunday to key government posts have caused a stir.

Kim Eui-kyeom, a former DPK lawmaker, was nominated to lead the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency, a government body under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while Choi Dong-hyuk was nominated for minister of personnel management. Both Kim and Choi played central roles in creating and spreading false information about former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon.

In 2022, then-lawmaker Kim claimed that Yoon and Han had a secret, inappropriate meeting with several attorneys from the nation’s top law firm at an upscale private bar, where they were allegedly entertained by hostesses. To support this accusation, Kim released an audio file featuring a phone conversation between a female cellist — who claimed to have been at the bar playing for the high-profile group — and her boyfriend. However, it was later revealed that the cellist lied about Yoon and Han’s alleged meeting with the attorneys.

Choi assisted in spreading this fake news. On a YouTube channel, he said that media reports of Yoon and Han’s secret meeting at the upscale bar were convincing. Han has pressed charges against Kim for fabricating and disseminating false information, and the trial is ongoing.

It is inappropriate for the president to nominate individuals responsible for spreading fake news to such important posts.

In democratic nations where heads of state are directly elected, the winner-take-all rule often prevails. Presidents, as victors, tend to appoint close aides and trusted allies they believe qualified for key positions. This practice helps newly elected leaders advance their policy agendas. However, if exercised improperly, the winner-take-all approach can backfire, causing policy inefficiencies and undermining the administration’s effectiveness.

The damaging effects of nepotism and cronyism are well documented, and they will harm not only the administration but also the nation as a whole.