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| Confusion caused by Pres.-elect Park`s spokesmen
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| JANUARY 14, 2013 04:41 |
Confusion caused by Pres.-elect Park`s spokesmen
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JANUARY 14, 2013 04:41.
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The spokesmen of Presidential-elect Park Geun-hye say things different from what she has in mind. On operations reports from ministries Friday, Yoon Chang-jung, the spokesman of the presidential transition committee, said Saturday, “President-elect Park was neither enraged nor angry.” Park Sun-gyu, the president-elect’s spokesman, said the same day, “I say the president-elect is clearly uncomfortable about ministries as they try to remain the status quo under a passive stance by relying on past practices, instead of taking on problems aggressively from the people`s perspective.” So who is right?
The bigger problem is the little to no communication the committee has had with the outside, which has made the people guess about her policies based on her mood. Nobody knew what ministries reported to the committee and what the committee had in mind. Yoon simply rejecting holding a briefing Friday, saying, “We decided not to give a briefing on what ministries said in detail.” He spent 32 minutes to elaborate on why he snubbed a briefing, and drew fire for saying Thursday, “I’m the only reporter on the committee.” This clearly ignores the some 1,000 reporters who cover the committee. What Yoon said sounds like “I`m the only one who`s correct, so just do what I say.” How ridiculous for the committee to claim it values communication with the people more than any other previous administration.
The transition committee of outgoing President Lee Myung-bak caused a backlash like occupying troops with its announcement of half-baked policies as represented by the furor over the pronunciation of “orange.” Park’s transition committee should strive to avoid the criticism that its predecessor earned, but the people deserve an explanation. While Yoon took a step back by saying he will hold briefings when the reporting by ministries enters the phase of analysis by division, he wrote off as a misinterpretation of goodwill that no briefing means lack of communication with the media. The people’s right to know and transparency are as important as preventing confusion over the transition period.
President-elect Park is well known for keeping lips sealed and valuing security. In certain cases, she might even put security above the people’s right to know. But her transition committee, which will draw the blueprint for her incoming administration, must listen to what the people think. Moreover, it is worrisome if lack of communication is caused by distrust and a power game among committee members. Critics say committee members do not provide spokesman Yoon with information because he is incapable of giving a briefing on what the committee discussed.
Kim Yong-jun, chairman of the transition committee, stressed a quiet start, saying, “The transition committee is a body that neither makes a decision nor rules others.” The committee’s two-month period is crucial, however, because it shapes the characteristics and image of the incoming administration. The amateurish image of the Roh Moo-hyun administration started from its transition committee. Park’s committee seems to be pushing ministries that are reluctant to secure revenue sources instead of coming through with the viability of election pledges. The committee could even stigmatize the image of the new administration as a one lacking communication.
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| The spokesmen of Presidential-elect Park Geun-hye say things different from what she has in mind. On operations reports from ministries Friday, Yoon Chang-jung, the spokesman of the presidential transition committee, said Saturday, “President-elect Park was neither enraged nor angry.” Park Sun-gyu, the president-elect’s spokesman, said the same day, “I say the president-elect is clearly uncomfortable about ministries as they try to remain the status quo under a passive stance by relying on past practices, instead of taking on problems aggressively from the people`s perspective.” So who is right?
The bigger problem is the little to no communication the committee has had with the outside, which has made the people guess about her policies based on her mood. Nobody knew what ministries reported to the committee and what the committee had in mind. Yoon simply rejecting holding a briefing Friday, saying, “We decided not to give a briefing on what ministries said in detail.” He spent 32 minutes to elaborate on why he snubbed a briefing, and drew fire for saying Thursday, “I’m the only reporter on the committee.” This clearly ignores the some 1,000 reporters who cover the committee. What Yoon said sounds like “I`m the only one who`s correct, so just do what I say.” How ridiculous for the committee to claim it values communication with the people more than any other previous administration.
The transition committee of outgoing President Lee Myung-bak caused a backlash like occupying troops with its announcement of half-baked policies as represented by the furor over the pronunciation of “orange.” Park’s transition committee should strive to avoid the criticism that its predecessor earned, but the people deserve an explanation. While Yoon took a step back by saying he will hold briefings when the reporting by ministries enters the phase of analysis by division, he wrote off as a misinterpretation of goodwill that no briefing means lack of communication with the media. The people’s right to know and transparency are as important as preventing confusion over the transition period.
President-elect Park is well known for keeping lips sealed and valuing security. In certain cases, she might even put security above the people’s right to know. But her transition committee, which will draw the blueprint for her incoming administration, must listen to what the people think. Moreover, it is worrisome if lack of communication is caused by distrust and a power game among committee members. Critics say committee members do not provide spokesman Yoon with information because he is incapable of giving a briefing on what the committee discussed.
Kim Yong-jun, chairman of the transition committee, stressed a quiet start, saying, “The transition committee is a body that neither makes a decision nor rules others.” The committee’s two-month period is crucial, however, because it shapes the characteristics and image of the incoming administration. The amateurish image of the Roh Moo-hyun administration started from its transition committee. Park’s committee seems to be pushing ministries that are reluctant to secure revenue sources instead of coming through with the viability of election pledges. The committee could even stigmatize the image of the new administration as a one lacking communication.
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