Ex-minister blasts Kim Moo-sung for insufficient efforts to recruit talents

Ex-minister blasts Kim Moo-sung for insufficient efforts to recruit talents. January. 25, 2016 07:38. by 이재명기자 egija@donga.com.

Choi Kyung-hwan, former deputy prime minister for economy and chief of the pro-Park Geun-hye faction, has returned to the ruling Saenuri Party after an 18-months absence, and started raising his own voices. Unlike Saenuri Chairman Kim Moo-sung, who is stressing external figures’ voluntary participation in open primary for April’s general elections, Choi is calling for proactive recruitment of external figures to distinguish himself from Kim.

Choi, who participated at the annual conference of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as presidential special envoy, met with reporters during his trip back to Seoul on Saturday. “Since people aspire for new figures in elections, the party should step up efforts to recruit talented human resources,” Choi said. “Those who are responsible should take the lead for the party to recruit talents." At a press meeting in Davos on Wednesday, Choi also said that since the opposition camp is striving for changes, including recruitment of external figures, the ruling camp should also be wary of and step up preparations.

“It is not right to recruit human resources the way the opposition parties bring in flowers to decorate their flower bouquets,” Kim said, however. “With the largest national network, the Saenuri Party already has a good system to recruit human resources, and everyone can participate in open competition in the party.” Kim also flatly denied Choi’s claim by saying, “If a talent fails to display the courage to join the election race by himself or herself, and it is useless to claim that the system (is wrong) without taking action to recommend someone.” He has thus urged pro-Park faction members to invite talented figures to participate in the open primary.