By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Korea will see an unprecedented form of government from Feb. 25 as political parties failed to compromise on the government reorganization bill.
President-elect Lee Myung-bak, who takes office then, may have to discuss state affairs with Cabinet ministers picked by his predecessor Roh Moo-hyun until mid-March.
Another possibility is that Cabinet meetings will not be convened until the National Assembly endorses new ministers, as there will be no eligible members to attend if Lee accepts the resignations of the incumbent Cabinet after taking office.
The new President may forgo meetings until March 20 unless the National Assembly confirmation hearings of his nominees for ministers take place. Legally, Lee can appoint his Cabinet on March 11 unless the Assembly wants an extension of 10 more days for the hearings. But politically, the Cabinet will be unable to run the government due to opposition from the liberal parties.
These are the possible consequences that could result from President-elect Lee's playing hardball by naming 15 ministerial nominees, after bipartisan negotiations on his government downsizing plan failed.
Cheong Wa Dae said incumbent President Roh will not accept the resignation of current Cabinet members until Lee takes office on Feb. 25, leaving the decision to him.
President-elect Lee nominated 15 Cabinet ministers on Monday. Earlier, former Foreign Affairs Minister Han Seung-soo was tapped as the first prime minister.
Lee's nomination followed the guidelines of the Constitution and the government downsizing plan the transition team proposed. The Constitution stipulates that the government should have 15 Cabinet ministers or more.
As expected, Lee's nomination met a backlash from the liberal United Democratic Party (UDP).
UDP Co-Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu criticized Lee's nominations, calling them ``undemocratic'' and ``illegal'' because they were made before a bipartisan agreement was reached on the government downsizing plan.
Sohn criticized Lee for unveiling his first Cabinet while deputies of the parties were discussing ways of seeking a consensus on the reform bill.
The UDP leader said Lee's nominations also indicate the President-elect does not consider the UDP as a partner in the Assembly.
Rep. Joo Ho-young, a spokesman for Lee, justified the nominations saying the new President would be unable to lead the country without a Cabinet.
Rep. Lee Han-koo, the GNP's chief policymaker, said, ``Many high-ranking foreign guests are scheduled to attend the inauguration of the new President on Feb. 25. Many of them might want to sit down with their Korean government counterparts during their stay in the country,'' Lee said.
``Having no responsible figures during the crucial time period is not only a diplomatic fiasco with these high-profile guests, but will also harm the national interest,'' he continued.
The policymaker said that a power vacuum in various ministries would deal a blow to the government especially if an emergency occurs.
UDP lawmaker Choi Jae-sung pointed out another negative consequence _ lawmakers may be requested to hold hearings to confirm ministers twice, or only partial hearings might be held.
``Parties have not reached agreement regarding the proposed plan to downsize the government,'' Choi said.
``Lawmakers may have to hold hearings of the same figures according to the existing government organization law and again according to the new one,'' he added.
The UDP lawmaker also said legislators could not ask questions to the education ministry nominee regarding science and technology affairs, which are supposed to be merged into the ministry under the proposed plan.
As a result, the hearing would have no content, Choi said.
In an emergency military situation, the new President would have to issue orders to the incumbent defense minister who was named by Roh.
Furthermore, the current Cheong Wa Dae reorganization plan may have to be endorsed by the incumbent Cabinet, whose ministers may not attend meetings if they are running in the general elections on April 9.