Opposition Criticizes Party-Government-Blue House Personnel Reshuffle as "Mere Facade of Reform"... Calls for Withdrawal of Appointment of Quarantine Planning Officer

Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is attending the members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th and is stepping up to the podium to speak. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The People Power Party criticized the ruling party, the Blue House, and the government’s personnel reshuffle, saying they are merely "pretending to reform by changing personnel without efforts to shift policy direction."

Kim Yeryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary on the 17th, "It seems they still do not realize the public’s anger, as this is merely a token gesture without fundamental reflection on what went wrong or a will for fundamental change."

On the previous day, Yoon Hojung was elected as the new floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. On the same day, President Moon Jae-in nominated former Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Boo-kyum as the next Prime Minister and former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-hee as the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House. Along with this, a cabinet reshuffle was carried out for five ministries including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Professor Ki Moran of the National Cancer Center was appointed to the newly established position of Quarantine Planning Officer.

Spokesperson Kim criticized, "Floor Leader Yoon was the main figure who pushed through the Lease Protection Act, Real Estate Tax Act, Fair Trade Act, and the Corruption Investigation Office Act despite opposition and concerns from the opposition during his time as chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. As the head of the ruling party, he is a staunch pro-Moon figure who acted as a de facto legal authority. What kind of change can be expected even if a few non-mainstream figures are inserted into government ministries and aides?"

Regarding Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum, Kim said, "He said that the party must field a candidate for the 'big election on which the party’s fate depends,' completely disregarding the sexual harassment victims of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don." She also criticized new Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi, saying, "She shamelessly sang Moon-bi-eo-cheon-ga (a flattering song for President Moon), likening the Moonlight Sonata to President Moon’s temperament."

The People Power Party also demanded the withdrawal of the appointment of Professor Ki Moran as Quarantine Planning Officer, citing lack of qualifications and political bias. On the same day, Hwang Gyu-hwan, full-time deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party, explained, "(Professor Ki) opposed the 'ban on entry from China,' which could have been a turning point in the early response, and also showed a complacent view that 'there is no need to close schools due to COVID-19.' On a program hosted by Kim Eo-jun, she baselessly claimed that 'the spread of COVID-19 was due to the Liberation Day rally,' showing partisan logic that casts doubt on her expertise."

Deputy spokesperson Hwang emphasized, "If such Professor Ki is in charge of quarantine work, the victims of that incompetence will be the people. We sincerely ask that the focus be on fundamental measures such as securing vaccines, not on personnel appointments without reflection or favoritism. The withdrawal of Ki’s appointment as Quarantine Planning Officer is a natural matter."