Kim Hyun-mi·Choo Mi-ae → Male Ministers, Park Young-sun → ?... Possibility of Appointments Based on Ability Rather Than Gender or Region
[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Jeon Jin-young] President Moon Jae-in's campaign promise of ‘30% female ministers’ is wavering after two cabinet reshuffles in December last year. Female ministers were replaced by men through the reshuffles, and there is also a possibility of further replacement of female ministers. In the ‘3rd reshuffle’ expected to take place in January, whether the 30% ratio of female ministers will be maintained is expected to be a key variable.
Before the Blue House announced the results of the ‘1st reshuffle’ on the 4th of last month, female ministers accounted for 6 out of 18 government ministries (33.3%): Ministry of Education (Yoo Eun-hye), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kang Kyung-wha), Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Lee Jung-ok), Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Park Young-sun), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Kim Hyun-mi), and Ministry of Justice (Choo Mi-ae).
However, in the 1st reshuffle, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was replaced by a male minister, Byun Chang-heum, and in the 2nd reshuffle on December 30 last year, the Ministry of Justice also appointed a male successor (candidate Park Beom-gye). Minister Park Young-sun, who is increasingly likely to run in the ruling party’s Seoul mayoral primary, is also the top candidate for replacement in the 3rd reshuffle. Among the six female ministers before the 1st reshuffle, half?three ministers?may be replaced.
In the 1st reshuffle, although the female minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was succeeded by another woman (Jung Young-ae), the overall ratio is expected to decrease. However, the appointment of Han Jeong-ae (a Democratic Party lawmaker), a woman, as the successor to Minister Cho Myung-rae of the Ministry of Environment in the 2nd reshuffle is a positive factor for increasing the proportion of female ministers.
Assuming Minister Park runs for Seoul mayor and candidates Park Beom-gye and Han Jeong-ae pass the National Assembly confirmation hearings and take office as ministers, there will be four female ministers (Yoo Eun-hye, Kang Kyung-wha, Jung Young-ae, Han Jeong-ae) among the 18 ministries. At least two female ministers must be appointed in the 3rd reshuffle to meet the 30% ratio.
In this regard, if the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is included in the 3rd reshuffle, there is speculation that Lee Yeon-seung, chairman of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, has been considered, drawing attention to the possibility of appointing additional female ministers.
A female lawmaker from the Democratic Party said, "30% is the minimum ratio at which voices representing women can be reflected. Since the government, especially the political sphere, must set an example, the 30% rule is very important," adding, "The president will try to maintain the overall 30% ratio including ministers and minister-level officials."
The variable is that the 3rd reshuffle will be carried out at a time when the ‘minister lineup’ responsible for President Moon’s fifth year in office is being formed. There is a view that, to achieve the ultimate goal of a successful government, ‘ability’ may be prioritized over considerations such as gender or region in personnel decisions.
Park Sang-byeong, a visiting professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, predicted, "Female ministers may be appointed considering the ability and policy execution power to make the five-year term a successful government, but they will not be strictly bound by the (female minister ratio)."
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