It looks like Uri Party Assemblywoman Han Myung Sook will be Korea's first female prime minister. The of course still has to be confirmed by the National Assembly, but considering how the main opposition party is not openly opposing her, unless some disqualifying information is suddenly discovered, it his highly likely she will be confirmed without any difficulty.
Han's qualifications include her long service to the cause of democracy, her parliamentary activities, and her managerial capabilities demonstrated while she was Minister of Gender Equality and later Minister of the Environment. Her appointment is significant just for the symbolism alone, since elevating the position of women is one of the main issued faced by our society today, and that is why her nomination is being welcomed by women's groups.
We take particular note of Han for her amicable temperament and gentle leadership because we hope she will promote reconciliation and the people's welfare in ways unlike previous prime ministers. We also hope to see her become a reform prime minister who is gentle yet holds to principles. That which is soft overcomes that which is strong, but if principles are lost in the process softness becomes weakness and vacillation.
It is too early to say whether the president Roh's idea of a "power-sharing prime ministership" will carry over from the previous PM. Whatever happens, however, we call on Han to speak boldly to the president about his mistakes. True work sharing between the president and prime minister is only effective when each is able to talk about the other's self-righteousness and egoism.
The first thing Han will have to do is manage upcoming regional elections in a fair and flawless manner. Despite the National Election Commission's efforts, there continue to be signs of corruption and overheated campaigning such as having regional government servants lining up behind certain local candidates. The Grand National Party's demand that Han renounce her Uri party membership very much looks like a partisan offensive. However, she does need to consider leaving the party then returning after the election is over, in order to avoid an unnecessary political dispute and to declare to the world her determination to run the elections neutrally and fairly.
Han will also have to work on restoring official discipline among public officials. All governments, when they start to enter the end of their terms, can easily see the mood among public officials become disorderly. There has to be strict and resolute punishment for officials who violate ethics standards, regardless of rank.
The biggest job for her will be restoring the country's confidence in the Participatory Government. The reason it has implemented various reform policies and still become estranged from the people is because either people don't feel the changes in their daily lives or because policies have had the opposite effect. Measures that directly relate to women such as the low birth rate, for example, have been all talk without any realistic follow-up measures. The discord over policy coordination between the government, Cheong Wa Dae, and Uri furthered the public's distrust. Her first step in restoring the people's confidence will have to be coldly reviewing the government's failed policies.
The Hankyoreh, 25 March 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] The Road Ahead for New PM Han Myung Sook |
