3 Sewol disaster bills passed; time to return normality

The ruling and opposition parties approved yesterday, in line with the schedule they agreed upon, three bills related to the Sewol disaster, including the Special Sewol Act concerning investigation of the disaster, the government organization act, and the Yoo Byeong-eon Act (regulation and punishment of financial gains from crime). The two sides reached compromise to have the Special Sewol Act enacted in a way that accept significant part of demands by bereaved families of victims in the disaster, and to get the government-drafted bills reflected in the government organization act and the Yoo Byeong-eon Act in general. The ruling and opposition parties thus displayed the power of political compromise over tough pending issues in a rare move, which is highly encouraging. The ruling and opposition parties should from now proactively step up efforts not only to conduct review of next year’s state budget, but also to address a flurry of pending state agendas including revival of the economy and people’s livelihoods and reform of the civil servants pension, ending the debacle following the Sewol disaster.

A significant change is expected in operation of government organization due to the establishment of the national safety ministry through merging the Korea Coast Guard and the National Emergency Management Administration, and to instatement of a deputy prime minister for social affairs. The governments’ countering of large scale disasters, an issue that has been highly controversial thus far, is to be taken over by the national safety ministry under the direct umbrella of the Prime Minister’s Office, clearly specifying the central command for disasters in charge, which constitutes progress.

However, some raise concern that although the Korea Coast Guard possessed the right to investigate to a certain extent, as the KCG is to be acquired by the national safety ministry, the shift could cause disruptions to KCG’s original function, and undermine the morale of its staff. Also, granting the Education Minister the roles of deputy prime minister for social affairs requiring the minister to coordinate various issues from different ministries involved in society-related matters is also cause for controversy in terms of practicality. The government should start implementing the new organizational structure for now, and correct and improve matters and address shortcomings going forward.

If the Special Sewol Act takes effect, an investigation committee will engage in activities for 18 months to 2 years. Independent council probe will also be conducted. The decision to allow a member of bereaved families to assume the chair of the investigation committee, to allow the committee to have strengthened power to issue subpoenas, and require the ruling party to win prior consent when recommending its own candidate for the independent council constitute special cases, in which the ruling party and the government have accepted demands by bereaved families to seek bigger gains, even though the committee is not granted the right to investigate and indict. The independent council should faithfully play its inherent role of investigating facts, but should never misuse his or her power for political purposes.

The three acts pertaining to the Sewol disaster have been enacted with the aim of achieving grand reform of the nation in principle. However, these alone will not enable the country to complete grand reform. Only when the ruling and opposition parties reach compromise on other safety-related bills including the Kim Young-ran Act (the bill banning illicit request to government officials for business favors and prohibiting conflict of interest among civil servants, and the bill banning appointment of government officials to posts at organizations under government oversight), then will the country be able to accelerate its drive to reform the government, which has just taken the very first step at long last.