The National Assembly's confirmation hearing for prime ministerial nominee Han Myung Sook has come to an end. Overall the two-day hearing went smoothly and without problems. Legislators said she was the least controversial prime ministerial nominee ever. However, it was a blast from the past when some members of the main opposition party sought to question her over ideology by judging her according to court records that were the result of torture under one of the dictatorships.
There was a noticeable absence of allegations about real estate speculation or other unethical assets, which are usually a part of the regular menu for such hearings. Committee members did question her on a few ethical issues, such as whether she used her influence to get her son a more comfortable job in the military and about her health insurance, but the widely held view is that nothing disqualified her on ethical grounds. She displayed a sense of balance and flexibility, when about the issue of her membership in the ruling Uri Party she promised to halt government/ruling party consultations during official election campaign periods. Her answers were calm and composed. She stressed the value of inclusiveness and communication in the area of relations with the opposition. You read in her statements that she intends to manage affairs of state differently from her predecessor, Lee Hae Chan.
Opinions about her answers regarding a free trade agreement with the United States, abolishing the National Security Law (NSL), and other important national issues will vary according to one's political views. That is natural. Some in the opposition question her ability to make things happen and to exert authority over government ministries, but seeing how the Grand National Party (GNP) has not made those questions part of its official stance, it appears her confirmation vote will be uneventful.
Even confirmed, however, Han will have a lot of work to do. She will have to avoid the self-righteous approach of her predecessor in order to calmly resolve the difficulties ahead.
The Hankyoreh, 19 April 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Hopes For The First Female Prime Minister |
