FM nominee gets flood of support

By Choi Ha-young

Kang Kyung-wha

Opposition parties are facing increasing calls to endorse foreign minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha.

Ten former foreign ministers threw their support behind her Saturday, dismissing the opposition bloc’s attacks on her lack of expertise. The veteran United Nations official has become a “political scapegoat” for the opposition parties’ attacks.

Parliamentary consent is not legally binding for Moon, but a unilateral move may hamper his reform drives.

“Through her longtime service at the U.N., where nations have conflicting interests, Kang had the ability to discover creative measures to cope with North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” the former ministers said in a statement.

The ministers come from across the ideological spectrum ― three from the Kim Young-sam government (Han Seung-joo, Gong Ro-myung, Yoo Chong-ha); three under Kim Dae-jung (Lee Jung-bin, Han Seung-soo, Choe Sung-hong), two under Roh Moo-hyun (Yoon Young-kwan, Song Min-sun) and two under Lee Myung-bak (Yu Myung-hwan, Kim Sung-hwan).

Earlier, 130 international aid groups announced their support for Kang, as did former sexual slavery victims, women’s rights groups and the union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During her confirmation hearing last week, three opposition parties ― the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), People’s Party and Bareun Party ― pointed out that Kang lacked experience in diplomacy and negotiations with regard to North Korea’s nuclear threats and a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system controversy.

“The opinions within the ministry were notable, showing the organization is willing to embrace the innovative designate. Through the former ministers’ joint moves, she was endorsed,” said political analyst Choi Young-il.

“The growing public support will put pressure on the opposition parties to endorse Kang. If Cheong Wa Dae pushes for her nomination, the opposition will fire back, but they will not gain popularity.”

Sejong Institute senior research fellow Cheong Seong-chang said, “If she fails to get the National Assembly’s endorsement, despite the veteran diplomats’ support, citizens cannot help but ask why the Assembly exists.”

The largest opposition LKP indicated it would interrupt the President’s other plans if he refused to drop some nominees. Moon needs opposition cooperation to pass a supplementary budget bill designed to create jobs.

In addition, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea submitted another bill to re-organize administrative bodies, which also requires opposition bloc cooperation.

“I wonder whether Moon is able to explain the budget bill while his ministers-designates are stuck,” LKP floor leader Chung Woo-taik said Saturday.

On Sunday, the People’s Party also renewed its opposition to Kang.

“We can’t authorize Kang, who failed to prove her capacity,” party floor leader Kim Dong-cheol said. Instead, he called for Moon to designate someone else.

The opposition is also dragging its feet on other two nominees ― Kim Sang-jo as head of the Fair Trade Commission and Kim Yi-su as Constitutional Court president. Because the presidential office is standing firm about Kang’s appointment, the People’s Party has seemingly withdrawn its endorsement for Kim Yi-su.

To break the deadlock, Moon is scheduled to address the Assembly. Before the speech, he plans to meet opposition leaders to seek their understanding of his nominations.