The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Wed, January 27, 2021 | 08:53
'Parachute appointments'
Posted : 2018-10-29 16:20
Updated : 2018-10-29 17:52
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Time to set up transparent personnel management system

Nearly 50 percent of heads and auditors of 340 state-run institutions were appointed through "influence from above" since the May 2017 inauguration of the Moon Jae-in government, according to an investigation by the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party.

Of the 364 presidents and auditors of the public organizations, 161 or 44.2 percent were "parachute appointments" used to refer to people with political or business backgrounds brought in to fill high-level positions despite their lack of experience and expertise.

It is deplorable that the very people who had been all-out to blame the previous conservative regime for its parachute appointments have been even worse since coming to power to apparently reward those who campaigned for Moon in the run-up to the presidential election.

Regarding the presidents of state-run agencies, former lawmakers and their secretaries, including Oh Young-sik of the Korea Railroad Corp. or KORAIL, were chosen by the government. And members of progressive civic groups such as the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy were appointed mainly as auditors of public institutions.

The problem with such appointments is that most of them lack the leadership and expertise to oversee their organizations nor the will to prevent hiring irregularities such as giving favors to the children of existing managers and other employees. This bad practice of nepotism has invited the wrath of young jobseekers.

President Moon, who has set the eradication of deep-rooted evils, including parachute appointments, as a supreme policy goal, should be ashamed of such an ill practice. He should realize that his administration is no different from the previous conservative governments of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye which were mired in corruption, power abuse and influence peddling.

It is urgent to put in place a transparent personnel management and appointment system before it is too late. It is surprising that the Moon government has made more parachute appointments than the Lee and Park administrations did.













 
WooriBank
 
  • Korean adoptees demand apology from President Moon
  • Partially clothed girl found dead in rice paddy
  • [INTERVIEW] 'Samsung-Ericsson lawsuit could take longer'
  • 3 officials from McDonald's supplier get suspended prison sentences for selling tainted patties
  • Hyundai Motor bets big on electric cars in 2021
  • Seoul city gov't to launch 3rd council of foreign residents
  • South Korea completes deployment of K-14 sniper rifle
  • Foreigners' property transactions hit new high in 2020
  • Despite 'bubble' worries, stock market to continue rally
  • Korea's economy contracts 1% in 2020 amid pandemic - the worst on-year growth in over 20 years
  • Rapper Iron found dead Rapper Iron found dead
  • Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation? Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation?
  • EXO's D.O. discharged from military service EXO's D.O. discharged from military service
  • Actress and model Song Yu-jung dies at 26 Actress and model Song Yu-jung dies at 26
  • 'The Uncanny Counter' finishes first season with its record high rating, confirms season 2 'The Uncanny Counter' finishes first season with its record high rating, confirms season 2
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright