"No Personal Involvement" Regarding Lone Star Allegations
Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo is making his first commute on the 4th to the hearing preparation office set up in the Korea Productivity Center building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy reporters Mun Jiwon and Lee Gimin] Prime Minister nominee Han Deok-su made his first appearance at the hearing preparation office set up in the Korea Productivity Center building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 4th. Meeting with reporters, Han stated, "We need to implement a supplementary budget for COVID-19, but expenditure restructuring is inevitable." Accordingly, budgets related to the nuclear phase-out policy pursued by the Moon Jae-in administration are expected to emerge as prime targets for restructuring in connection with the supplementary budget.
When asked by reporters about his stance on fiscal soundness regarding the supplementary budget formulation, Han said, "COVID-19 is a global issue in the long term, and we are facing global and domestic wars." He added, "Government debt is increasing too rapidly. We must solidify our will and goals to maintain fiscal soundness in the mid to long term. Only then can we be accepted domestically and internationally even if we face fiscal pressure in the long run."
As Han takes the same position as the transition team on expenditure restructuring for the supplementary budget, it is expected that budgets currently under review by the transition team for restructuring, such as carbon neutrality and the Green New Deal, will likely face cuts. In a phone interview with Asia Economy, Han emphasized regarding restructuring of budgets related to the nuclear phase-out policy, "We need to conduct a physical review to see if true carbon neutrality can be achieved through the nuclear phase-out."
Regarding the standards and schedule for appointments such as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and ministers, Han said, "We have had appropriate discussions about the candidates mentioned," but refrained from giving specific details. However, Han expressed the view that for the cabinet to work actively, the prime minister and ministers should have more responsibility and authority than currently. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for President-elect Yoon’s side, conveyed Han’s remarks during a briefing at the transition team office in Tongui-dong, saying, "There may be people the president-elect needs to meet once appointments are made, and absolute time is needed to inform you within next week," adding, "We need to speed up including the deputy prime minister for economic affairs."
Regarding allegations from civic groups that Han was involved in the Lone Star case during his time as a legal advisor at Kim & Chang law firm and as prime minister, Han drew a clear line, stating, "I was involved in the Lone Star issue as a policy executor, but I was not involved at all in my private capacity at Kim & Chang."
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