청 "The President-elect's side also confirmed Director Lee Chang-yong's intention"

"Two People Asked... Chose Lee Chang-yong"
"Thought It Would Be a Gift... Feeling Embarrassed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 23rd, the Blue House responded to the transition team's claim that there was no consultation during the nomination process for the Governor of the Bank of Korea by saying, "(The Bank of Korea Governor appointment) seemed like it would be a gift, so we are surprised by the transition team's reaction."

The Blue House also stated, "We heard that the President-elect's side confirmed the intention of Lee Chang-yong, the IMF Asia-Pacific Director and candidate for the Bank of Korea Governor."

A senior Blue House official told reporters on the 23rd, "Since the name of the Bank of Korea Governor was frequently mentioned in the media, we asked about the two individuals, and when the transition team said it was Director Lee, we made the nomination," explaining the situation.

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, previously told reporters that there was no consultation or recommendation during the Bank of Korea Governor appointment process and described it as an "unacceptable appointment."

However, according to the official, Chief Jang reportedly asked whether Director Lee had undergone personnel screening during the consultation process. The Blue House official said, "When asked if he was screened, we replied that he had been screened before when he was mentioned as a candidate for the Monetary Policy Committee member, so there was no problem," adding, "We also heard that the President-elect's side confirmed whether Director Lee was willing to take the position."

The Blue House also expressed frustration, saying it could not understand the transition team's true intentions. A senior Blue House official said, "When we said the announcement would be made today, he (Chief Jang) claimed that there was no agreement, said 'the person has changed,' and that 'someone else will take the position.' Also, there was the argument that 'it should be done as a package, why only this one?' These three reactions were mixed, so we don't know what is sincere."

Lee Chang-yong, nominated by President Moon Jae-in as the Bank of Korea Governor candidate on the same day, is regarded as a figure close to the conservative side, having served as a member of the transition committee and vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission at the beginning of the Lee Myung-bak administration.

Accordingly, the Blue House is also surprised by the backlash, having expected the transition team to accept Director Lee's appointment as a "gift." A senior Blue House official said, "We thought they would be pleased because we gladly fulfilled their wishes," adding, "We thought that if we appointed their preferred person, it would be like a gift and could serve as an opportunity for things to go well, so we are surprised."

The official warned the transition team, saying, "We have no intention of engaging in a truth dispute, but if they keep lying like that, (the Blue House) will disclose everything," emphasizing the Blue House's personnel principle that "appointments are made during the President's term but the content is sufficiently consulted with the President-elect's side."

He continued, "Making appointments during President Moon's term means signing off, not appointing our own people," and added, "It seems good for the two sides to meet soon, and we proposed to quickly consult on the remaining three positions."

The 'three positions' refer to the two Audit Committee member seats and the standing member position of the National Election Commission, where there are disagreements between the transition team and the Blue House, in addition to the successor for the Bank of Korea Governor.