32nd Opposition Passing... Another 'Cheongmunhoe'

President Moon appoints Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom and two ministers amid opposition backlash... Ruling party leadership invited to Cheong meeting

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min, Oh Ju-yeon, Park Jun-yi] The political situation in May rapidly froze due to the so-called ‘opposition party passing personnel’ issue.

On the 14th, the People Power Party held an emergency party meeting in front of the Blue House fountain and strongly protested. Kim Ki-hyun, acting party leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized, "The unilateral appointment of unqualified candidates is a disaster carried out under the script and direction of the Blue House, with the Democratic Party of Korea appearing as the mastermind behind it."

On the 14th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Minister of Science and ICT Lim Hye-sook, and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyung-wook, who received their appointment letters at the Blue House, are the 30th to 32nd minister-level or higher appointments forcibly processed amid opposition from the opposition party. The People Power Party pointed out that the ruling party has not changed even after the election defeat and ridiculed the personnel hearing system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party seemed to respond with ‘regret’ as if conscious of the opposition party’s criticism that the appointment was forced by the ruling party’s unilateral decision, but expressed expectations for Prime Minister Kim.

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "He is a five-term lawmaker and has been verified as Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, possessing rich experience," and evaluated him as "someone who has implemented integrated politics with an open attitude between the ruling and opposition parties."

Regarding this, Prime Minister Kim met with reporters on his way to work that day and pledged, "I will become a prime minister who thoroughly aims for integration," adding, "I will also approach my work and the way I solve problems in a way that unites the hearts of the people."

The Democratic Party explained that President Moon’s upcoming visit to the United States on the 21st for the Korea-US summit was also a reason for hastening the prime minister’s appointment process. It was unavoidable to expedite the prime minister’s approval to act in place of the president during his absence.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, Leader Song also showed a humble stance. He said, "I feel regretful and sorry that the approval was processed without the participation of the main opposition party." Although Song restored his dignity by leading the voluntary resignation of Park Jun-young, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, he also bore the burden of the ‘political deadlock.’

President Moon invited Leader Song, floor leader Yoon Ho-jung, Supreme Council member Kim Yong-min, and other ruling party leaders to the Blue House that morning for a meeting to discuss solutions to the political situation. A Blue House official said, "We also discussed yesterday’s National Assembly situation."

They broadly addressed diplomatic and security issues including the Korea-US summit, as well as domestic issues such as COVID-19 and real estate market stabilization. The Blue House intended to shift the focus of issues from political matters to livelihood issues with the appointment of Prime Minister Kim, but concerns remained as the political situation was pushed into a zero-hour status.

Although the meeting with the ruling party leadership succeeded in extinguishing the spark of party-Blue House conflicts feared by some in the political circle, the image of ‘unilateral politics’ was imposed amid opposition party protests.