Park Ji-won to Yoon: "Not only women but almost all Honam natives excluded... If you promised improvement"

President Yoon Promises "Bold Opportunities for Women"
Park Ji-won Says "Almost Excluding Honam Natives... Honestly Acknowledging and Improving Is Politics"

Director Park Ji-won of the National Intelligence Service made a personnel recommendation to President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won urged President Yoon Seok-yeol to appoint not only women but also individuals from the Honam region.

On the night of the 24th, former Director Park posted on his Facebook, referring to the discussion on 'gender conflict' that took place during the meeting between President Yoon and the 21st National Assembly's first half leadership.

On that day, Kim Sang-hee, the first female Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in constitutional history, said, "What is regrettable is the gender conflict. There were many discussions during the presidential election phase and unnecessary conflicts, but the election period and post-election are different."

In response, President Yoon Seok-yeol said, "Recently, while reviewing public office candidates, there was a female candidate. Her evaluation was slightly lower than other candidates, and one aide said, 'It might be because she was a woman and did not receive a proper evaluation cumulatively.' At that moment, I was awakened. I think my perspective was narrow since I had just started politics, but now I will try to see things more broadly." He also promised, "I will strive to give bold opportunities to women in public office appointments."

Former Director Park praised this, saying, "Honestly acknowledging and improving is politics," and added, "Let's applaud the president who promises to give opportunities to women public officials and all women." He further suggested, "There is more. Almost no one from Honam has been appointed to ministerial, vice-ministerial, or senior secretary positions. How great would it be if you also promised to improve this?"

Among the first ministerial candidates of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the only Honam appointee is Lee Sang-min, candidate for Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, from Jeonbuk. Besides him, there are seven from the Yeongnam region, four from Seoul, and four from the Chungcheong region. Except for the two vacancies left by the resignations of Kim In-cheol, candidate for Minister of Education, and Jeong Ho-young, candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare, the appointments are nearly finalized.