Labor minister nominee faces tough hearing

By Choi Ha-young

Labor Minister nominee Cho Dae-yop faces a tough parliamentary confirmation hearing on June 28 for allegedly lying about drunk driving.

Cho, a Korea University sociology professor, was caught driving under the influence of alcohol in 2007 near the university campus, with a blood alcohol level of over 0.1 percent. This was enough to cancel his license.

When naming Cho Sunday, Cheong Wa Dae revealed this incident and asked for public understanding, emphasizing his capability and expertise on labor issues.

“Driving under the influence was my obvious fault. I sincerely offer an apology to citizens,” Cho said, Monday. The liberal professor said he drank to console student activists who were ousted for their progressive movement, but they denied the explanation.

“It seems Cho lied to the Assembly and the people,” said Chung Woo-taik, floor leader of the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party, Friday. “The presidential secretaries should take responsibility for their missteps on personnel affairs.”

Former People’s Party chairman Park Jie-won, who gave the okay signs to Moon’s other nominees, disapproved of Cho. “The continuous media reports and tip-offs feel quite serious. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said on social media Friday, urging Moon to give up on Cho and justice minister nominee Ahn Kyong-whan.

His high-handed remarks toward the university students made last December are causing an uproar as well. “We were very dejected to see Moon’s appointment of Cho,” Korea University’s student union said on an attached poster, Wednesday.

In the middle of the conflict between student bodies and the university authority around the reorganization of the school’s structure, Cho talked down to students. Asked to be polite to the students, the professor reacted sarcastically: “Oh, yes. Dear students.”

“The newly appointed minister of employment and labor is charged with a mission of great importance, to achieve the great compromise between labor groups and employers. The task requires thorough belief in democracy,” the poster reads. “Cho’s attitude was not democratic at all. We cannot help question whether he is qualified for this role.”

Opposition parties also take issue with lack of experience. After 26 years as a scholar, the professor has published only one academic article that dealt with labor issues.

The Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, in charge of verifying the designate, has signaled fussy verification. “He would be bombarded by opposition lawmakers,” committee member Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Bareun Party told The Korea Times. “It would be difficult for the ruling party to defend him.”

Rep. Lee Sang-don of the People’s Party cast his doubts that Cho served as a nonexecutive director for a company, without approval of Korea University. “I confirmed that Cho’s director post was not documented on the university intranet. This is a violation of the Private School Act and the Public Educational Officials Act,” Lee said via email, Thursday.

The tough confirmation hearing is likely to escalate the tensions between Cheong Wa Dae and opposition parties, following the frictions around nominations of others ― foreign minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha and Constitutional Court president nominee Kim Yi-su.

The President revealed his firm will to push ahead Kang’s nomination Thursday, while the opposition bloc are digging in their heels. Backed by overwhelming popularity ― 83 percent according to Gallup Korea’s poll issued Friday ― Moon decided to break through the opposition parties’ political offensives.

“I will await the decision with a modest attitude,” the longtime United Nations official told reporters, Friday.