By Song Kyung-jin
There are many factors pushing President Yoon Suk Yeol to expedite a reshuffle of the presidential office and cabinet to restore discipline in the government. Such pressing factors include the sluggish economy, increasing difficulty in the people’s livelihoods and a series of wrong political decisions, including the failure to host World Expo 2030. More than a month has passed since Yoon expressed his intention to reshuffle his office and cabinet. As people’s patience is wearing thinner over things progressing ata snail's pace, Yoon should deliver his promise as soon as possible, so as not for this drag to translate into a downward adjustment in approval ratings.
Appointments to the presidential office and cabinet should be based on merit, fairness, acceptable moral standards and gender balance, among others. Appointments in the first 17 months of the Yoon government have largely not satisfied these selection criteria, disappointing the Korean public. There seems a broad consensus among the public on the dysfunction of the National Assembly personnel hearing system. However, no public debate about its modification is under way and it is still very much a part of the system. Therefore, moral standards of potential candidates for cabinet posts are absolutely critical, and those that do not meet the selection criteria can be a service to the country by not accepting an offer and yielding it to other qualified colleagues.
This administration is not free of criticism of gender insensitivity in its policies and appointments since taking power on May 10, 2022. As the president himself said at a press conference in May of last year, there are many cases in which women do not reach the top of the organization because there are relatively few opportunities for them. This is not because women lack ability. Rather it is a discriminatory result caused by social, cultural and structural factors. He was very right in his assessment of reality. But as the elected leader of the country, his duty and responsibility go beyond this point to correct the sorry state by employing measures to offset the imbalance and provide a level playing field for all citizens. This requires the leader’s firm belief and will. This is the leadership quality that people would like to see in the president.
The failed attempt to host the 2030 World Expo has also revealed the unconscious and deep-rooted lack of gender awareness of Korea throughout. At the final presentation, the Korean team had only one woman speaking, whereas the competitors — Saudi Arabia and Italy — had more women presenters who touched the heart of the listeners. It was already sending out a negative message to the world that Korea is gender insensitive and outdated, not fully grasping the global trends.
So, to offset this negative image aired around the world and to bring about a change to the national practice and system, the reshuffle should include more female appointments in the presidential office and cabinet at the senior secretary and minister level. A new female prime minister in this reshuffle would mark a positive change of course.
Now is the time to take action. First, let us take a look at the status of female ministers in Korea, the United States and Japan.
U.S. President Joe Biden regards the Violence Against Women Act (enacted in 1994), in which he played a decisive role, as the most meaningful legislation during his 36 years in the Senate. At the U.S. Department of State, the Gender Affairs division is directly under the Secretary of State. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, the share of women at the Cabinet level and above in the Biden administration reached up to 52 percent, and even in the Trump administration, which was not very "gender friendly," it reached up to 26 percent.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also took the unprecedented step of appointing five women in a cabinet reshuffle last September. The proportion of female cabinet ministers, including foreign affairs and defense, amounts to 26.3 percent. It is claimed that this is a ploy aimed at increasing approval ratings. The appointment of female talent also helps approval ratings.
Of the 26 positions above the ministerial level in the Yoon administration, there are only three female ministers at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The proportion of female ministers is 11.5 percent, which is not a figure to be proud of. This is a reality that does not befit Yoon’s promise to the public and the international community.
The upcoming reshuffle will be a measure of implementation. Opportunities must be given to qualified women. Without opportunities, it will be difficult for anyone — female or male — to prove themself. Any sensible person will be a friend and supporter of the leader who gives them a chance. The elected leaders are mandated to create and give opportunities to the public.
Dr. Song Kyung-jin (kj_song@hotmail.com) led the Institute for Global Economics (IGE), based in Seoul and served as special adviser to the chairman of the Presidential Committee for the Seoul G20 Summit in the Office of the President. Presently, she is executive director of the Innovative Economy Forum.
Cabinet reshuffle and appointing right people urgently needed
25
0
04.12.2023
By Song Kyung-jin There are many factors pushing President Yoon Suk Yeol to expedite a reshuffle of the presidential office and cabinet to restore discipline in the government. Such pressing factors include the sluggish economy, increasing difficulty in the people’s livelihoods and a series of wrong political decisions, including the failure to host World Expo 2030. More than a month has passed since Yoon expressed his intention to reshuffle his office and cabinet. As people’s patience is wearing thinner over things progressing ata snail's pace, Yoon should deliver his promise as soon as possible, so as not for this drag to translate into a downward adjustment in approval ratings.
Appointments to the presidential office and cabinet should be based on merit, fairness, acceptable moral standards and gender balance, among others. Appointments in the first 17 months of the Yoon government have largely not satisfied these selection criteria, disappointing the Korean public. There seems a broad consensus among the public on the dysfunction of the National Assembly personnel hearing system. However, no public debate about its modification is under way and it is still very much a part of the system. Therefore, moral standards of potential candidates for cabinet posts are absolutely critical, and those that do not........
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