[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Lee Cheolhee, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, on the 22nd, drew a line regarding some criticisms that the appointment of Park Seongmin, former Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, as Youth Secretary was influenced by the 'Lee Junseok effect,' saying, "The idea did not start from there."
Lee said on MBC Radio's 'Pyo Changwon's News Highkick' that day, "(The vetting for the Youth Secretary appointment) started about two months ago, when no one expected Lee Junseok to become the leader of the main opposition party."
He added, "The intention was simply to reflect the concerns of young people themselves on youth issues," and "I hope this can be read as a signal that the government is deeply considering youth issues."
Lee explained that initially, the Blue House planned to appoint two co-Youth Secretaries, one male and one female. He said, "At first, we intended to have a male and female co-secretary system," adding, "We thought it could be a meaningful experiment to have men and women in their 20s and 30s working together, but we failed to find a suitable male candidate."
He said, "We approached this with the awareness that it would be good if the parties involved directly raised issues and proposed solutions from their perspective," and "There is a confrontational frame between young men and young women, but I do not strongly agree with that."
Park Sung-min, former Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appointed as Youth Secretary at the Blue House [Image source=Yonhap News]
Regarding criticism from the People Power Party's Staff Council that Park's appointment only made young people feel deprived, Lee expressed that he "finds it difficult to agree."
He emphasized, "This was not a case of suddenly using someone's chance to bring in a person," and "Park was active in the party and has been evaluated and vetted through social activities, so I believe he is fully qualified."
He said, "Some say that a Grade 1 position is something you can only reach after 20 or 30 years as a public official, and that is true," but added, "However, this position is a political appointment without a fixed term, and even if short, it could be as brief as one month, and at most, it only lasts until the end of President Moon Jaein's term, so it won't even be a full year. Please consider that point."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
