Opposition parties to reject Cabinet reshuffle
South Korea's opposition parties decided to reject the Cabinet reshuffle announced on Wednesday that was announced without prior consultation, as the country tries to cope with an unfolding scandal surrounding the chief executive's confidante.
Political pundits said the opposition parties' boycott of parliamentary hearings on the candidates will emerge as a hurdle since such sessions calls for participation of more than half of the lawmakers, while nominees can only be appointed with a majority backing.
Park earlier named Kim Byong-joon, who served as a senior policy adviser to late President Roh Moo-hyun, as the new prime minister
"Park is attempting to overcome the crisis by implementing a reshuffle that only looks like a neutral Cabinet from the outside by tapping officials who served under a liberal administration," said Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party.
The lawmaker said the opposition has been demanding an investigation into Park, adding such a reshuffle will not ease public anger.
"The presidential office's decision to seek a Cabinet reshuffle without giving prior notice is hard to understand," said Rep. Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the People's Party. "Park cannot cover the situation through a reshuffle while avoiding the fact-finding efforts."
Lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri Party were also divided over the earlier-than-expected personnel reshuffle by the presidential office.
While lawmakers, categorized as the pro-Park faction, supported the announcement, adding the opposition parties should also lend support, others claimed the move is problematic as it did not win the parliament's approval beforehand.
"The Cabinet reshuffle strongly implies the willingness for the normalization of state affairs," Rep. Kim Sung-won, the party's spokesman, said, adding the change will play a key role in overcoming the crisis.
"The new prime minister does not have a strong political stance and has experience working for the government," another high-ranking party official said, adding Kim Byong-joon is the right figure for the country.
The pro-Park faction has strongly recommend the prime minister nominee when talks of a neutral Cabinet emerged over the weekend.
Rep. Kim Yong-tae, who is known as one of the non-Park lawmakers, said a true neutral Cabinet can only be made when the parliament proposes candidates to the president, with Park stepping aside from state affairs.
"Although the nominee is a competent figure, it was inappropriate to announce the candidate unilaterally," Rep. Kwon Seong-dong said, adding Park should have at least asked the ruling and opposition parties to recommend someone capable of handling the country.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a Democratic Party member and a potential contender for the liberal bloc in next year's presidential race, on Wednesday officially urged Park to resign, and expressed disappointment over the surprise appointment. (Yonhap)