Education minister thrives on politics of smile

By Oh Young-jin

Google Hwang Yoo-yea for photos and you will find half of them having the deputy prime minister in charge of education wear a big toothy smile on his face.

Politicians prefer to have a serious public image, often showing little hint of gaiety.

By smiling, then, is Hwang risking being taken lightly?

“I want to make people happy. What I can do for them is smile instead of frown,” Hwang said during a recent interview. He joked that people might treat him less seriously for his smile but he didn’t really care.

However, there is no way saying whether his smiling face has hurt his career or helped it.

The former appellate judge is a three-term lawmaker, serving in such top jobs as floor leader and party leader of the ruling Saenuri Party.

Last August, Hwang was commandeered for his current job by President Park Geun-hye, who had to fire her first Education Minister Seo Nam-soo over a controversial photo of him eating instant noodles while seated on a “luxury” chair at a shelter for Sewol disaster victims’ families.

Seo’s successor-to-be, also a professor, withdrew over revelations about claims of plagiarism and misuse of school funds.

Hwang also initially faced skepticism for the lack of professional expertise when he was named for the most senior Cabinet post, only second to the prime minister and deputy prime minister for economy.

But the opposition didn’t last long as he showed his dexterity in dealing with detractors.

Primarily, Hwang’s over 10-year stint on the parliamentary education committee prevailed over allegations of his lack of expertise.

During the 30-minute interview, Hwang was pleasant but not always smiling.

Rather, when he didn’t smile, he looked to be somebody that nobody messes with.

He unwittingly revealed looks of the dispassion and gravitas of a judge, the job he had for 20 years.

His suit didn’t completely hide his athletic physique _ he is an avid kendo practitioner.

Some claimed that his smile was the result of his constant efforts to reach out to people.

There were rumors that he hired coaches to train for the perfect smile.

Hwang remembered his childhood as full of energy and smiles.

“I am a cheerful person,” he said, adding that he would tell jokes while having long, reflective conversations with his friends. Often, he succeeded in making them laugh.

He thinks that his unassuming manners are often an advantage.

“I am trying to do my best,” he said, adding he needed to feel people willing to help him.

If that is the case, is he interested in becoming a prime minister?

He said that, if the President asked him, he would take the job.

“But that’s not by my choice,” he deadpanned, explaining that it was the nation’s call for duty. As soon as he finishes his job at the administration, he plans to go back to the National Assembly.

Park’s government is dubbed as the graveyard for prime ministers because many candidates and incumbent ones have fallen over corruption or misbehavior.

The interview took place last Tuesday when Park was searching for a successor to Lee Wan-koo, who stepped down and faced investigation by prosecutors for being on a list of bribe-taking politicians the late businessman Sung Woan-jong left behind before he killed himself.

Once, he wiped the smile off his face, observing, “Few over 50 could boast of being completely free from worldly cares and tears.” He is 67 years old.