청 "The authority to appoint the successor of the Bank of Korea Governor lies with President Moon, who else would do it?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the appointment process for the successor to the Governor of the Bank of Korea is stalling, the Blue House stated on the 17th that President Moon Jae-in should exercise the nomination right for the next Governor of the Bank of Korea.

Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Public Communication, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the same day and responded to reports suggesting that the nomination right for the Bank of Korea Governor would be handed over to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol by saying, "That is completely unfounded."

With the term of Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol ending on the 31st of this month, there were expectations that discussions regarding the appointment of the successor would take place during meetings between the outgoing and incoming administrations. However, the meeting scheduled for the 16th was postponed, raising concerns about a vacancy in the Bank of Korea Governor position. One reason cited for the postponement is reportedly differences in opinions between the two sides regarding the successor's appointment.

In response to the host's question, "Is it appropriate for President Moon to also nominate the next Governor?" Park said, "The term ends on May 9, so who else but President Moon would exercise the appointment right?" and added, "Handing over that right is an unreasonable notion."

Park also said, "How could President Moon not exercise the established appointment right?" but left room for possibility by saying, "However, among the things the two leaders might discuss when they meet, various topics could be included."

Regarding the transition team’s review of relocating the presidential office, Park said, "I heard the reason for the move is that 'the Blue House office and the Secretariat are separated, causing inefficiency,' but currently, the President does not work in the main building of the Blue House," adding, "President Roh Moo-hyun and President Moon Jae-in both moved down to the Secretariat building to eliminate the distance between the Secretariat and the office."

Park pointed out, "If the President is sought, he can be seen within one minute. I don’t know where the logic that the office and Secretariat are far apart and that moving is necessary to improve efficiency came from, but it does not match the current situation at all."