[Column] Moon Administration Claims "Fairness" Amid Parachute Appointments Flood

"I will make ability and placing the right person in the right position the main principles of personnel management."

This is what President Moon Jae-in said in his inaugural speech on May 10, 2017, revealing his criteria for talent recruitment. During his presidential campaign, he signed an agreement with the financial labor union to eradicate "parachute appointments" and made it a campaign pledge. However, throughout his term, criticism never ceased that pro-government personnel were being appointed to public institutions. His administration was also stigmatized as the "Camcorder (Camp·Code·Democratic Party)" regime.

Financial public institutions, where expertise is highly valued, were no exception. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) appointed lawyer Kim Jeong-beom, who ran as a ruling party candidate for the National Assembly, as an outside director. There are four former politicians on the KDIC board alone, including Park Sang-jin, an executive director who ran as a ruling party preliminary candidate in the last general election; Seon Jong-moon, an outside director; and Lee Han-gyu, an auditor who served as the Democratic Party’s policy chief.

Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) appointed Won Ho-jun, former head of the unmanned business division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as an executive director. Despite having no financial experience, he is in charge of the Corporate Support Headquarters. This has immediately sparked backlash from KAMCO’s labor union and internal staff.

Despite this situation, there has been no significant explanation or apology from the government. On the contrary, it has highlighted "a fair society" as an achievement of its term and launched a large-scale promotional campaign. Through Korea Policy Briefing, it emphasized, "We have fostered a cooperative economic environment to recognize fair economy as a natural economic order and to establish it as a culture and practice."

Which citizen would consider society fair if someone rises to a public institution executive position with a salary in the hundreds of millions won not because of ability but political inclination? If the government promises to change a society where success is based on blood ties, regionalism, and academic connections, which citizen would believe it? It is questionable whether the current government is qualified to criticize and rectify an unfair society.

If the harsh media criticism of parachute appointments is deemed inappropriate, the government can explain now. It can inform the public to help them understand the expertise of the directors at the center of controversy. If it confidently persuades that these executives possess excellent abilities, the public will accept it.

If that is not possible, at least the president should directly express regret. That is what a government pursuing a "fair Republic of Korea" should do. Passing over without any explanation or apology is not a proper act toward the candlelight citizens who fervently wished for a fair society.

Reporter Song Seung-seop tmdtjq8506@