Former journalist CK Moon, a political novice, named South Korea’s new PM; Moon has “long tried to correct the wrong practices and deep-rooted evils in our society through rational solutions and a cool-headed critical mind.”

Park Nominates Former Journalist as New South Korean Premier

South Korean President Park Geun Hye nominated a former journalist as prime minister to lead a government shakeup prompted by public anger over the Sewol ferry sinking.

Moon Chang Keuk, who worked at JoongAng Ilbo newspaper and teaches journalism at Seoul National University, was picked to replace Prime Minister Chung Hong Won, presidential spokesman Min Kyung Wook said today at a televised briefing. Chung offered his resignation to assume responsibility for the April 16 sinking that left about 300 people dead or missing, most of them high school students on a field trip.

Park’s earlier pick for premier, Ahn Dai Hee, withdrew his candidacy last month amid allegations by opposition lawmakers that the former justice might have peddled influence while working as an attorney, claims Ahn denied. The withdrawal was a setback for Park’s plan to overhaul her cabinet in the wake of the sinking that she said had exposed bureaucratic incompetence.

The new nominee “will properly drive state agenda such as reforming the bureaucracy and normalizing abnormalities,” Min said, calling Moon someone who has “long tried to correct the wrong practices and deep-rooted evils in our society through rational solutions and a cool-headed critical mind.”

Moon, who has no political experience, is an “extreme conservative” and his appointment runs counter to the people’s wish for change, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said in a statement on its website, vowing a “thorough vetting.”

Sewol Trial

Moon wrote a column for the newspaper and was previously a reporter covering politics.

Park also nominated South Korean ambassador to Japan, Lee Byung Kee, as the new head of the National Intelligence Service.

The nominations came as 15 crew members of the Sewol went on trial over their role in the ferry sinking that has rattled public confidence in Park’s government. Her party and the NPAD split the results of last week’s local elections, in what was Park’s first electoral test as president.

In South Korea the president holds executive power, with the prime minister having limited responsibilities.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Kim in Seoul at skim609@bloomberg.net

 

Former journalist, a political novice, named South Korea’s new PM

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 – 17:16

AFP

SEOUL – South Korean President Park Geun Hye on Tuesday nominated a political novice and former journalist as prime minister, as she reshuffles her Cabinet in response to intense criticism over the handling of April’s ferry disaster.

Ms Park’s nomination of Mr Moon Chang Keuk, 65, was something of a surprise.

Although a noted opinion maker from his time as chief editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, he has no political or administrative experience, having given up journalism to take up teaching posts in universities.

He will replace Mr Chung Hong Won, who resigned last month over the Sewol ferry tragedy, which claimed around 300 lives, mostly schoolchildren. The trial of 15 crew members from the ferry opened on Tuesday.

Mr Chung will remain in the job pending parliamentary endorsement of Mr Moon’s appointment.

Ms Park had initially nominated former Supreme Court justice Ahn Dai Hee to the post, but he withdrew two weeks ago following controversy over income he amassed after leaving the bench and going into private practice.

“Moon is seen as the person who can properly push state agendas, including the reform of public offices,” presidential spokesman Min Kyung Wook said.

However, the premiership is a largely symbolic position in South Korea, where all real power lies in the presidential Blue House.

Ms Park also named South Korea’s current ambassador to Japan Lee Byung Kee to head the domestic spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The NIS has been rocked by a number of scandals in the past year – including revelations that a number of agents meddled in the 2012 presidential election by posting messages on social networks critical of Park’s opposition challenger.

The President’s administration was sharply criticised over its response to the Sewol disaster, which had threatened to derail her ruling Saenuri party in local elections last week.

But the voter backlash never really transpired, and the party split the 17 main contests for city mayors and provincial governors with the opposition.

Ms Park dismantled the coast guard after the Sewol disaster and promised a major overhaul of national safety standards and procedures.