Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, holds a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th. By Oh Dae-geun
Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, was a ‘strong transition chairperson’. He suggests that some of the promises of President-elect Yoon can be selected and changed during the transition process. It is interpreted that he intends to imprint the image of a ‘government operation partner’ at the same time as holding real power and practical power, unlike previous takeover chairpersons.
Chairman Ahn held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 14th and said, “About 50% of the parts in which the promises and the state tasks are exactly the same were in the previous governments.” He also pointed out, “In the Moon Jae-in administration, there were no takeovers, so almost all of the promises were made into major national policies, but there were a lot of side effects.”
The 2017 presidential election pointed out that the Moon Jae-in administration did not go through a transition committee as it was a by-election held following the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. This can be read as meaning that the next Yoon Seok-Yeol government will use this as a basis for calculation and select the things that can be pursued among the promises of the elected president during the transition committee process.
In response to a question regarding whether President-elect Yoon’s pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family can be abolished, Chairman Ahn said, “It is not abolition, but rather a report on several possible policy directions, and I think it is the right choice for the elected person among them. “He said. Then, to the question of ‘President-elect Yoon wants to abolish the Ministry of Leisure, how will he do things with different views? I’m trying to figure out a direction for that.”
With this in mind, there is an interpretation that the possibility of reexamining the promise of the abolition of the Ministry of Leisure is open to the possibility of reexamination in principle. Chairman Ahn showed a difference in his position with Yoon-elect Yoon when he announced that he would reorganize the leisure department into the ‘gender equality department’ during his presidential campaign.
Rep. Lee Tae-gyu, from Chairman Ahn, issued a statement following the press conference and hurriedly evolved, saying, “I have not made any specific comments regarding the abolition of the policy.” It is also proof that President-elect Yoon’s will to abolish the leisure department is that strong, with the intention of not creating any misunderstandings in the early stages of the transition committee.
Chairman Ahn refused to respond immediately, saying, “The only thought in my head is to focus on the work I am currently assigned to do.” Regarding the power of the people and the unity of the people with the party, he said, “The secretary-general will meet and proceed as soon as possible.”
Chairman Ahn suggested five tasks of national government: restoration of fairness, rule of law, and democracy, future food and jobs, balanced regional development, national sustainability, and national unity. This is interpreted as emphasizing that his philosophy as a partner of the joint government and that of President-elect Yoon are not different. He cited humility, communication, and responsibility as the operating principles of the transition committee, and said, “The transition committee is not an occupation force. I will work with a humble attitude in front of history and the people.” He, who also serves as the chairman of the Corona Emergency Response Committee, explained, “(The Corona Special Committee) will discuss with experts by dividing it into a medical part such as quarantine and a loss compensation part for small business owners and self-employed people.”
President-elect Yoon also gave Chairman Ahn strength and respect. In a meeting with Chairman Ahn, President-elect Yoon said, “I will steadily and densely prepare the roadmap for state affairs on a daily basis.” He also promised active communication with Chairman Ahn, saying, “Once the transition committee is activated, as the elected president, I will not only preside over the general meeting of the transition committee, but also hold inspection meetings from time to time.”
Kim Hyun-bin reporter [email protected]
