Go to contents

Pres. Park must overcome crisis by personnel replacement

Pres. Park must overcome crisis by personnel replacement

Posted December. 08, 2014 03:44,   

한국어

Regarding the controversy over a former presidential aide’s influence scandal triggered by leak of internal memoranda called ‘Jeong Yun-hoe briefing,’ President Park Geun-hye said on Dec. 6, “If the whole nation is swayed by such groundless rumors, it would be a shame for Korea.” This comment came at a luncheon with ruling Saenuri Party leadership and members of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. The internal report, which President Park referred as ‘groundless rumor,’ was written by an official under the Secretary to the President for Public Office Discipline this January. Some made testimonies that the President’s chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, who has been surrounded by rumors of retirement, ordered to investigate the background. If so, the whole situation swaying the entire nation with groundless-rumor-like memoranda has begun with chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and Office of Secretary to the President for Public Office Discipline.

“After a media outlet reported without thorough verification, unreasonable rumors keep coming out from various sources. Don’t be swayed by such unilateral claim and wait to observe results of prosecution investigation.” However, under the current situation, it is unclear whether the public will trust even when the prosecution produces fact-based investigation results. Still, it is not appropriate for the President to repeatedly make comments that sound like giving a guideline to the prosecution following the chief secretary meeting on Dec. 1.

It is not others but the former secretaries of ministers in this administration who make all the claims such as secret ties of former presidential aide or the hidden powers peddling influence in the state affairs and appointments of government officials. Against this backdrop, Chief Executive of the state affairs must be ashamed and willing to apologize to the public. “Former aid Jeong Yun-hoe left Blue House a long time ago and now I lost contact with him. Ji-man couple (President Park’s own brother and his wife) are not allowed to come near Blue House,” said President Park, dismissing the suspicion of (Jeong’s) wielding influence over the state affairs or rumors of conflict (with Park). However, Jeong and Park admitted through various channels that they have a discord regarding a claim that Jeong had put a tail on Park.

Saenuri party leader Kim Moo-seong said, “It has been reported as if a critical crisis has come to the administration. But I hope this would be a good opportunity to correct wrong things and to resolve misunderstandings.” Partly leader Kim promised at a press conference right after winning the national election on July 14, saying “The ruling party will be bright eyes and big ears of the President. The party will deliver public opinions without any adjustment.” A question still remains, whether Kim is keeping the promise now. If the ruling party cannot say a crisis is a crisis to the President, the crisis may go beyond a crisis of the administration and become a crisis of the nation. President Park must make a frontal breakthrough by replacement of personnel including chief of staff Kim and other three presidential aides who are criticized of covering eyes and ears of the president.