Cheong Wa Dae is working on a small-scale cabinet shuffle but is being hesitant about replacing National Defense Minister Yoon Kwang Ung. Yoon himself has already submitted his resignation. Public opinion assumes he is going to be replaced. Still, Cheong Wa Dae has dragged its feet and is acting as if it wants to have things vaguely forgotten. Is it unable to read public opinion, or is it aware of public opinion and trying to crush it?
The shooting spree at a DMZ guard post took eight lives. The soldiers' families and the whole country are in deep shock. The incident seriously hurt confidence in the military. Everyone under the rank of regiment commander has been relieved of his position. The division commander and corps commander are soon to be disciplined. Having the defense minister similarly assuming responsibility is only a matter of course, given the seriousness of the case and the effects it has had. The reason public opinion has not been calling for his resignation to be accepted was because people wanted to see Yoon settle the case first.
Cheong Wa Dae reportedly thinks that it needs Yoon around if it is going to smoothly finish up the details of its defense reform plans by August. Given the particularities of the military one can understand how president Roh Moo Hyun wants to continue to have an earlier graduate from his high school and his former defense advisor be defense minister. Still, personnel management must follow principles. Yoon also has responsibility to bear for the human feces incident and two separate holes found in one of the fences at the DMZ. A considerable degree of the leadership he needs to enact reform has been lost. Few would agree that Yoon is the only one who can pursue reform of the military.
On Monday the Grand National Party (GNP) submitted a non-binding "bill to recommend dismissal" regarding Yoon to the National Assembly. Will Cheong Wa Day only start considering replacing him after the opposition unites in passing a dismissal recommendation bill? It has been more than once that Cheong Wa Dae has stubbornly resisted changing its people only to be hit with a strong public opinion backlash. Now that the shooting spree case has been concluded it should accept Yoon's resignation.
The Hankyoreh, 28 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] No Reason to Keep Defense Minister Yoon |
