Moon hit for naming Hwang as minister
The National Assembly has wrapped up its hearing on Hwang Hee, a candidate for minister of culture, sports and tourism, amid lingering, diverse controversies. Lawmakers threw a barrage of questions at Hwang until late Tuesday to check his work aptitude and ethics to determine whether he is suitable to be a cabinet member. But their efforts were largely ineffective due to a lack of evidence to back their allegations and seemingly incomplete responses from Hwang.
The nominee had triggered prior controversy by travelling overseas with his family for 11 days in July, 2017, without attending a plenary session of the National Assembly. Hwang apologized for his action and said what he did was improper, even though the parliamentary schedule had not been set when he and his family left for Spain. But Hwang was found to have been absent from National Assembly sessions eight times, including sick leaves and five overseas trips.
Controversy also brewed over his daughter studying abroad in 2011 apparently in violation of relevant laws. There is also rising suspicion over Hwang's family members possessing as many as 46 bank accounts. He explained that he had failed to manage the accounts in the process of losing in two general elections. "Most of the accounts had small amounts of money and we had new accounts issued without knowing the existence of the previous ones," he said.
Hwang has also been criticized for allegedly misusing funds collected through an event in late 2019 celebrating the publication of his book to pay for his housing rent. He also faces suspicions of plagiarizing his doctoral paper, written in December, 2017 based on a similar paper his advisory professor submitted to the Assembly as part of a state project.
It is inappropriate for Hwang to have deleted all of his social networking service (SNS) postings ahead of the parliamentary hearing, despite his hitherto practice of utilizing SNS to convey his opinions on pending issues. This is an attempt to avoid possible criticism, but runs against his pledge to place priority on "brisk" communication.
Hwang expressed his will to support culture-related people who are suffering from the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. Yet he does not seem to be a proper fit for the ministerial post, which requires expertise in dealing with policies of culture, sports and tourism. Despite fierce resistance from the main opposition People Power Party, the Assembly did adopt a hearing report which was sent to President Moon Jae-in. Moon appointed him as the minister late Wednesday, triggering further criticism against Moon administration.
The ruling party has been expecting Hwang will be appointed without fail, considering the fact that no lawmaker has failed to be appointed since 2000 when the Assembly confirmations system was introduced for the first time. All 17 lawmakers who were nominated as cabinet members since the start of the Moon administration have been appointed. Moon should have not appointed Hwang in order to show his intention to tap ministers based on their ability and morality instead of their ideological affinity and chemistry with the ruling camp.
The National Assembly has wrapped up its hearing on Hwang Hee, a candidate for minister of culture, sports and tourism, amid lingering, diverse controversies. Lawmakers threw a barrage of questions at Hwang until late Tuesday to check his work aptitude and ethics to determine whether he is suitable to be a cabinet member. But their efforts were largely ineffective due to a lack of evidence to back their allegations and seemingly incomplete responses from Hwang.
The nominee had triggered prior controversy by travelling overseas with his family for 11 days in July, 2017, without attending a plenary session of the National Assembly. Hwang apologized for his action and said what he did was improper, even though the parliamentary schedule had not been set when he and his family left for Spain. But Hwang was found to have been absent from National Assembly sessions eight times, including sick leaves and five overseas trips.
Controversy also brewed over his daughter studying abroad in 2011 apparently in violation of relevant laws. There is also rising suspicion over Hwang's family members possessing as many as 46 bank accounts. He explained that he had failed to manage the accounts in the process of losing in two general elections. "Most of the accounts had small amounts of money and we had new accounts issued without knowing the existence of the previous ones," he said.
Hwang has also been criticized for allegedly misusing funds collected through an event in late 2019 celebrating the publication of his book to pay for his housing rent. He also faces suspicions of plagiarizing his doctoral paper, written in December, 2017 based on a similar paper his advisory professor submitted to the Assembly as part of a state project.
It is inappropriate for Hwang to have deleted all of his social networking service (SNS) postings ahead of the parliamentary hearing, despite his hitherto practice of utilizing SNS to convey his opinions on pending issues. This is an attempt to avoid possible criticism, but runs against his pledge to place priority on "brisk" communication.
Hwang expressed his will to support culture-related people who are suffering from the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. Yet he does not seem to be a proper fit for the ministerial post, which requires expertise in dealing with policies of culture, sports and tourism. Despite fierce resistance from the main opposition People Power Party, the Assembly did adopt a hearing report which was sent to President Moon Jae-in. Moon appointed him as the minister late Wednesday, triggering further criticism against Moon administration.
The ruling party has been expecting Hwang will be appointed without fail, considering the fact that no lawmaker has failed to be appointed since 2000 when the Assembly confirmations system was introduced for the first time. All 17 lawmakers who were nominated as cabinet members since the start of the Moon administration have been appointed. Moon should have not appointed Hwang in order to show his intention to tap ministers based on their ability and morality instead of their ideological affinity and chemistry with the ruling camp.
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