Park names four-term lawmaker ocean minister

By Kim Tae-gyu

Rep. Lee Ju-young

President Park Geun-hye tapped Rep. Lee Ju-young of the governing Saenuri Party to be the new minister of oceans and fisheries, said presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook Wednesday.

The nomination came six days after former Minister Yoon Jin-sook was dismissed for a series of gaffes over a recent oil spill off the southwestern coastal city of Yeosu.

“As a four-term lawmaker, Rep. Lee has a deep understanding of state affairs across the board and is also highly venerated. He is the right man to effectively operate and stabilize the ocean ministry,” Min said.

“Lee also has assumed such positions as the ruling party’s deputy floor leader and chief policymaker as well as head of its think-tank. Hence, he could contribute greatly to cooperation between the government and the party.”

But Lee still has to go through a series of confirmation hearings. Although President Park is not bound to the results of this process as to whether she officially appoints him, the opposition parties are expected to give the nominee a tough time.

In particular, they are likely to take issue with Lee’s lack of experience and expertise in maritime affairs.

Born in Masan, a port city in South Gyeongsang Province, Lee studied law at Seoul National University and passed the bar exam in 1978 to become a judge two years later.

After spending the following two decades as judge and lawyer, he entered politics in 2000 after being elected as a congressman in his hometown. The 62-year-old held his parliamentary seat for three more elections.

On Jan. 31, a Singapore-registered oil tanker crashed into pipelines operated by GS Caltex in waters off Yeosu. In dealing with its aftermaths, former Minister Yoon made a series of public mistakes, which angered people.

At the request of Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, President Park sacked the gaffe-prone Cabinet member on Feb. 6.