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President Lee’s New Cabinet Arouses Controversy
By Jeon Joo-hee, Tribune Reporter
Last August 8th, Lee Myeong-bak, President of South Korea has reshuffled his cabinet. He nominated Kim Tae-ho, former governor of South Gyeongsang-do, aged 47 for Prime Minister, while seven ministers and two vice-ministers has been replaced. The ruling party of South Korea welcomed the new cabinet, saying this reformation is the result of effort to show President Lee’s folksy mind. However, the opposition parties criticized it severely, saying that he decided to adhere to his controversial policies once again and even the new cabinet is merely his bodyguards. Whether the reorganized cabinet is for a new change of President Lee’s administration or not, it has become a big issue among Koreans. Then, let’s find out how the foreign press sees the new cabinet with Chonnam Tribune.
Sankei Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper, expected a young new Prime Minister will draw favor of young people, saying “the appointment of new Prime Minister Kim Tae-ho has showed South Korean government’s will to reinforce the political power through generational shift.” It showed interest not only to new Prime Minister but also to other replaced ministers and anticipated the appointment of Minister Lee Jae-oh would contribute to the relations between North and South Korea and to keep a balance in the National Assembly.
Cable News Network (CNN), a U.S. news channel, also reported the cabinet shake-up of South Korean government as exclusive news and focused on the young age of new Prime minister. “If confirmed, Kim, 47, would be the country’s first Prime Minister under age 50 in four decades.” It interpreted this cabinet reshuffle as an outcome of defeating of the ruling party in recent local elections, analyzing the local elections showed dissatisfaction of people about President’s policies.
Agence France-Presse (AFP), a French news agency, expressed similar views with CNN. It said “the appointment of young Prime Minister showed that South Korean government has realized the need of communication with young voters.” It also analyzed South Korean government learned a lesson from the local elections on June, too.
Chinese Medias also gave major coverage to the shake-up of South Korean government. The China Daily, a Chinese English-language daily newspaper, described the reformation as “South Korean government’s great infusion of young blood”. It focused on the shock of the cabinet shake-up, which breaks away from existing South Korean government’s conservative view. Xinhua News analyzed that the reshuffle of the cabinet in South Korea is a way for President Lee's administration to gain new momentum. It also showed interest in new Prime Minister Kim Tae-ho, publishing his photo.
According to these articles mentioned above, major foreign press have expectation to this political situation of South Korea and expressed ‘the fresh shock’ for nominated young Prime Minister in common and among them, analyzed this cabinet shake-up is a strategic move by President Lee Myeong-bak, to recover South Korean popular sentiment and to reinforce of his political power. President Lee Myung-bak’s policies have almost always caused controversy in South Korea such as the Four Major River Restoration Project, the relationship with North Korea, and now the recent reshuffled cabinet. Many Koreans are concerned about the new cabinet and mostly, they wait and see what will happen. Their attention seems directly reflect their wish for President Lee Myeong-bak to make right decisions. Many people hope that the new cabinet would conduct state affairs successfully, and new, young Prime Minister would bring a positive "Shock" to Korean politics. Everybody is watching their first step.
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