Korea and Korea stress the need for a ‘responsible prime minister-minister’… The successor appointments for the ministerial candidates are expected to be announced soon.
President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol (left) walks in front of a microphone following designating former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo as the new government’s first prime minister candidate at a press conference at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. “One candidate, regardless of political faction, was recognized for his skills and expertise,” said Yoon-elect. Takeover photo reporters
On the 3rd, President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol nominated former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo (73) as the new government’s first prime minister candidate. Starting with the nomination of prime minister candidates, Yoon-elect plans to release the candidates for each ministerial minister this week and speed up the new government fragmentation.
President-elect Yoon held a press conference at the Office of the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the same day and introduced, “A candidate is a person who has served in key positions in state affairs solely because of his skills and expertise, regardless of political faction.” One candidate held high-ranking government posts successively in the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Lee Myung-bak governments. A key official from the president-elect Yoon’s side praised himself, saying, “It shows the pragmatic selection principle of the elected president, which emphasizes proven skills and achievements rather than camps or regions.” Regarding the background of the nomination, President-elect Yoon said, “The new government must thoroughly prepare for the ‘economic and security era’ in which economy and security are united. He is the right person to carry out the task.”
President-elect Yoon also expressed his will to become a ‘responsible prime minister/minister’. Regarding a candidate’s proposal for the minister’s recommendation for the vice minister, Yoon said, “In the end, when it comes to selecting the person to work with, I plan to put the most importance on the minister’s opinion.” One candidate also said, “We need to shift the excessive concentration of powers of the Blue House to the cabinet and ministers so that (prime ministers and ministers) have considerable authority over the tasks they are trying to do and take responsibility for the results.”
It is said that most of the candidates for Minister are also condensed by Yoon-elect’s side. One candidate said, “I met with Yoon the day before and reviewed the candidates for each ministerial minister.” The results of the cabinet appointment are also expected to be announced one following another. As the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, the control tower of the economic line, Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, from the People’s Power, is being considered as a strong candidate. In the security line, former 2nd Vice Foreign Minister Kim Seong-han is the head of the Blue House National Security Office, and People’s Strength Rep. Park Jin Park is a strong candidate for foreign minister.
Reporter Hong Soo-young gaea@donga.com
Correspondent Choi Hye-ryeong herstory@donga.com