Moon's Cabinet feared to face vacuum as ministers eye local elections

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae, right, greets students at Geumyang Elementary School in Yongsan District, Seoul, Nov. 22, when all schools in Korea resumed full-scale in-person classes. Joint Press Corps

By Nam Hyun-woo

With President Moon Jae-in's tenure ending in six months, his Cabinet is feared to face a vacuum, as its members are weighing up bids for local elections that will take place three months after the presidential election next year.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is striving to bring Cabinet members under control, but concern is growing over a potential malfunction of the government next year in the event of several members' departures, as Moon is unlikely to appoint new ministers for the remaining months of his term and it will also take a couple of months for his successor to appoint his or her Cabinet after inauguration.

During a radio interview with broadcaster CBS, Nov. 19, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae showed her intention to run in the local elections, which are slated for June 1.

"Since I am a politician, it would be a lie to say I am not thinking of running in the local elections," Yoo said when asked if she intends to run for the Gyeonggi Province governorship. "I think I should contemplate it and make a decision before it's too late."

Rumors have long been spreading that Yoo is eying the Gyeonggi governor post, which is already vacant as former Governor Lee Jae-myung resigned to run in the presidential election as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate.

"Since I started as a politician, the political role for me is to serve the people to improve their livelihoods," Yoo said. "I am now thinking of what I can do for this purpose."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki speaks during a National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee meeting at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Nov. 11. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun

Along with Yoo, another Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, who is double-hatted as minister of economy and finance, is also mentioned as a strong contender for Gangwon Province governor.

Rumors of Hong's bid have been spreading for some time in the political circle, but he has neither admitted nor denied this, with the DPK showing signs that it is considering Hong as a contender.

During a press conference in Gangwon Province, Nov. 18, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the DPK was asked which DPK member will be running in the local elections and he answered, "We have Hong Nam-ki."

Gangwon-based newspapers reported that Hong met Taeyoung Group founder Yoon Se-young, a businessman hailing from the province, earlier this month, and the two discussed Hong's potential election bid.

Since the local elections will take place soon after the presidential election, chances are high that their campaigns will be overshadowed by the presidential campaign. Due to this, critics said there will be "greater advantages" for those who are already serving in ranking positions and getting their names out to the public, which is becoming a huge temptation for current Cabinet members.

If the two deputy prime ministers decide to run, they must resign from their posts 90 days before the day of election as stated in the country's Public Official Election Act. For Yoo and Hong to run in the local elections, they would have to quit before April.

This, however, may cause setbacks in government operations, given the time required for replacing deputy prime ministers and ministers.

Even if Yoo or Hong resigns now and announces their election bids, it will take time for Moon to search for the right nominees for the posts, and those nominated have to be approved through National Assembly hearings.

For example, Cheong Wa Dae announced its nomination of Prime Minister Kim on April 16, and Moon awarded him a letter of appointment on May 14. Even though Kim's Assembly hearing went without a major resistance between the rival parties, it took a month for Kim to officially begin his job.

Given this, new deputy prime ministers of Moon's choice will likely end up serving for no more than a couple of months.

Thus, critics say there will be no people willingly to endure a tough confirmation hearing at the Assembly to serve for such a short term. So it is said the deputy education or finance minister may become acting ministers.

If a Cabinet vacuum is created, it is expected to last for a long period, because it will also take time for the new president to organize his or her Cabinet given the aforementioned hearing processes.

This is especially so, if the main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl takes office. Because the ruling DPK is holding a majority in the Assembly, chances are high that the two sides will clash fiercely over the Cabinet nominees Yoon picks.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Government Complex Sejong, Nov. 24. Yonhap

As concerns grow, Prime Minister Kim is making efforts to dismiss rumors regarding the deputy prime ministers', which appeared to be an effort to rein in Cabinet members' election bids.

"It is impossible," Kim said when asked about the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle triggered from the deputy prime ministers' possible resignation, during a press conference Nov. 22. "With only six months left for the administration, how can we reshuffle the Cabinet? It will leave all public officials open to mockery by the public, and they (Hong and Yoo) are also public servants and they have common sense."

Kim said no Cabinet members have discussed their resignation with him, but he is not sure whether they will run in the elections or not. He added, "Their abrupt resignation without the government's preparation will become a critical handicap for themselves."

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