Justice Party: "Yoon Cabinet a Feast of 경육남... Where Are the Bold Claims of 30s Ministers?"

"Seo-O-Nam Transition Committee Followed by Gyeong-Yuk-Nam Cabinet"
"No Explanation of Causal Relationship Between 'Competent Person Appointment' and 'Regional, Generational, Gender Balance'"
"Regret Over Minister Nominee Who Proved Changing Words...Will Strictly Review During Confirmation Hearing"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol announced the inaugural cabinet lineup on the afternoon of the 10th at the 20th Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. On this day, President-elect Yoon announced the appointments for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The Justice Party criticized President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's inaugural cabinet appointments on the 10th as a 'Gyeong-yuk-nam' (Gyeongsang Province-born, in their 60s, male) extravaganza.

Jang Tae-soo, spokesperson for the Justice Party, stated in a written briefing titled "Ministerial Nominee Appointments Proving the Change of Words" that afternoon, "The disappointing aspect of the appointments is that it is a 'Gyeong-yuk-nam extravaganza.'

He criticized, "Out of 27 committee members, only 4 were women in the 'Seo-o-nam' (Seoul National University graduates, in their 50s, male) transition committee, and now it appears to continue into a Gyeong-yuk-nam cabinet."

He added, "The president-elect said that if competent people were appointed for each ministry, there would be a balanced representation in terms of region, generation, and gender, but he did not explain the logical causal relationship between 'appointing competent people' and 'balancing region, generation, and gender.' We cannot find the spirit of the times of national unity, which was highlighted by the National Unity Committee specially established by the president-elect, nor can we overcome the gender and generational conflicts that were intense during the last presidential election."

He also pointedly remarked, "Especially on December 18 last year, when the youth generation was urged to actively participate in government operations and lead them, the president-elect confidently declared that 'there will be not just one or two but several ministers in their 30s.' We cannot help but ask where that promise has gone."

He expressed regret over the ministerial nominee appointments that prove the president-elect's change of words and urged that such a repetition not occur in future ministerial nominations.

He further emphasized, "Including the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who has been receiving public surprise as a sudden pick, we will rigorously examine during the confirmation hearings whether the nominees have the capability to handle the issues of their respective ministries and the expertise to create a future vision."