End-of-Term Personnel Conflict Intensifies
Previous Day's Truth Dispute Over Bank of Korea Governor
Moon Urges Meeting with Yoon
Kim Eun-hye "Will Strive to Ease Public Concerns"
[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Na Ju-seok] Cracks are emerging throughout the process of power transition between the old and new regimes during this period of regime change. This is a result of a series of unprecedented events, including the relocation of the presidential office, the controversy over the appointment of the Bank of Korea governor, and the transition committee sending back the Ministry of Justice's current issues report. Since the core of the conflict lies in the appointment of the Board of Audit and Inspection members, it is expected to be difficult to find an opportunity for resolution. However, President Moon Jae-in's remark to "not listen to others and make a direct judgment" leaves the possibility of dialogue open, which could become a variable.
On the 24th, the members of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Affairs Subcommittee of the transition committee raised issues regarding the previous day's press briefing by Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye. Minister Park expressed opposition to President-elect Yoon Seok-youl's campaign pledge to abolish the Ministry of Justice minister's investigative authority. The transition committee has requested the Ministry of Justice to reconsider its position.
For now, the transition committee stated that the decision to postpone the work report was "not the will of President-elect Yoon," but this issue is also being perceived as a power clash between the current administration under President Moon Jae-in and the incoming administration under President-elect Yoon. The conflict between the two sides has reached a peak to the extent that even the customary meeting between the president and the president-elect has not been scheduled. Following President-elect Yoon's opposition to President Moon's plan to relocate the presidential office on the 21st, citing a tight schedule and security gaps, the two sides engaged in a battle of truths over the appointment of the Bank of Korea governor the day before.
The Blue House is reportedly not planning to issue any further statements on this matter. However, the Ministry of Justice appeared to be taken aback. When Minister Park arrived at the Government Complex Gwacheon Ministry of Justice building and was asked by reporters whether the Ministry of Justice's work report would proceed as scheduled, he replied, "Check with them (the transition committee). It seems there is a variable," avoiding a specific answer. A Ministry of Justice official said, "We have not heard whether an official position will be released," indicating they are awaiting Minister Park's intentions.
The problem is that it is difficult to predict the end of the conflict. The appointment of the Board of Audit and Inspection members is expected to be the biggest hurdle. A source close to President-elect Yoon said, "The issue with the meeting involves the appointment of audit members," adding, "The Blue House wants to appoint one person from their side, but we cannot accept that."
The appointment of audit members has emerged as a new flashpoint in the conflict between the Blue House and the transition committee due to the personnel composition of the Board of Audit and Inspection, the decision-making body of the Audit and Inspection Office. The board consists of seven members, with two seats currently vacant. Among the five members currently holding seats, three are considered to have strong ties to the Moon administration. If the Blue House appoints one more member, the board's composition will tilt 4 to 3 in favor of the Moon administration. The transition committee points out that this could block investigations into corruption and irregularities of the Moon administration. During his candidacy, Yoon Seok-youl declared his intention to investigate the current administration's deep-rooted evils, which led to confrontations with President Moon.
However, the Blue House criticizes the transition committee's intention to appoint the remaining two audit members as crossing the line. A senior Blue House official said, "(The Blue House) is willing to negotiate appointments in good faith, but (the transition committee) mistakenly believes it is their right or authority," calling it "throwing a tantrum."
President-elect Yoon counters, saying, "In principle, it is not desirable for the next government to make personnel decisions for people who will serve for many years at the end." However, since President Moon has called for an unconditional meeting with President-elect Yoon, there is a possibility of a breakthrough. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the president-elect, said regarding the conflict, "We understand the concerns of the people," and added, "We will work harder so that there is no need to worry."
Meanwhile, President-elect Yoon plans to have a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping within this week. From President Xi's perspective, this breaks precedent as there has been no prior phone call with a national leader in the status of a president-elect. On the same day, President-elect Yoon will meet with Akiva Tor, the Israeli ambassador to Korea, in the afternoon.
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