Opposition boycotts Yoon's work report

Yoon Jin-sook, left, Oceans and Fisheries Minister, speaks to Rep. Kim Jae-won of the ruling Saenuri Party, a member of the National Assembly Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee, at a meeting with the ruling party and ministry in the Assembly Members’ Office Building, Monday. Opposition lawmakers of the committee refused to accept a yearly policy plan report from Yoon, scheduled to be submitted today. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

Opposition lawmakers refused Monday to accept a report from Oceans and Fisheries Minister, Yoon Jin-sook, outlining her policy proposals for a year in protest of President Park Geun-hye’s decision to confirm her to the cabinet post.

Yoon was scheduled to present her policy plans at the National Assembly Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee today.

“President Park showed her typically arrogant and non-communicative behavior by enforcing the appointment of Yoon who has been continuously criticized for not being qualified. It is the grand finale of her appointment fiasco,” said eight opposition lawmakers belonging to the committee in a statement.

The former Korea Maritime Institute official became a target of ridicule earlier this month during a confirmation hearing for the ministerial appointment held in the parliament because she did not properly answer lawmakers’ questions, repeatedly saying “I don’t know.” Although President Park had been under pressure, even from members of the ruling Saenuri party, to withdraw her nomination of Yoon, she pressed ahead and confirmed the appointment last Wednesday.

Seven legislators from the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) and one from the minor Unified Progressive Party say they objected to the appointment many times including when opposition party members met Park for a dinner held in Cheong Wa Dae last week.

“Now, we have no choice, but to doubt Park’s words that she will strengthen communication with opposition parties,” the statement said.

They stressed that Yoon’s nomination was opposed by floor leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties.

“An opinion poll showed that 64.7 percent of members of the public disagreed with her appointment. Even people from Busan, Yoon’s hometown, turned their backs on her.”

Lawmakers called on Yoon to make a public apology for causing anxiety among people regarding her capability of leading the ministry before beginning her term as minister.

The rejection of Yoon’s policy report is the only one to be rejected by the committee according to an official from the office of Rep. Kim Yung-rok of the DUP, one of the lawmakers who made the joint statement.

“They will decide if they will receive another report from Yoon after seeing how the president and Yoon respond,” he said.

Instead, the opposition intends to strictly question Yoon about her vision for the ministry during a two-day interpellation session to begin Thursday at the Assembly. Other Cabinet members including Prime Minister Chung Hong-won are subject to the parliament’s interpellation session, the first since President Park was inaugurated.

Regarding her controversial minister, Park told opposition lawmakers last Tuesday: “Yoon has rich experience in the oceans and fisheries sector. I chose her because she is a rare talented female who has worked in this area. It is regrettable if Yoon caused disappointment among the public during her hearing, but I urge the people to show generous understanding.”

Park pushed ahead and confirmed Yoon’s appointment the following day.