There is a slight uproar over the move by current members of the cabinet to run in regional elections coming May 31. The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is on the attack, asking if the cabinet is a "ruling party candidate training center." Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Uri Party respond by asking what the problem is with having people with experience in running the government running for public office.
Uri initially wanted a total of seven ministers to run as candidates for provincial governors and independent city mayors, but in discussions with Cheong Wa Dae the number was reduced to four: Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Oh Young Kyo, Minister of Information and Communication Chin Dae Je, Minister of the Environment Lee Jae Yong, and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Oh Keo Don.
The practice of having ministers, deputy ministers, and presidential secretaries run for office is nothing new. During the government of Kim Young Sam six members of cabinet and three presidential advisors went to run in the 1996 National Assembly elections, and during Kim Dae Jung's government four ministers went to run in National Assembly elections in 2000 half willing and half pushed. In 2004, during the current government of Roh Moo Hyun, two ministers and two advisors left to run for Assembly seats. It was even more serious during the dictatorships, when a single word uttered by the president could make anything happen and be done with.
There clearly has to be an end to the outdated practice of "transferring" ministers to the party because of the party's needs regardless of personal desires, not unlike is done with athletes. It is especially deserving that there be accusations that ministerial posts are being treated like resume building programs, since for some ministers there was talk from the very beginning suggesting they would eventually be sent to run for office in the provinces. You worry that frequent cabinet changes could upset government affairs. Most of all it is a problem because cabinet members' desires are not being respected.
The behavior of individual ministers is also causing controversy. Environment Minister Lee Jae Yong earned himself an official warning from the National Election Commission for declaring there needs to be a "replacement of regional governments" at an Uri event in Daegu. One would like to see them keep official government business and what are now their unofficial matters separate so as to avoid accusations of election interference.
The Hankyoreh, 25 February 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Trading Ministers Like Athletes |
