South Korea President Park Geun-hye Replaces 3 Ministers
South Korea President Park Geun-hye replaced the three ministers and four vice minister-level officials on Tuesday.
Woo Byung-woo, the president's senior secretary for civil affairs remained in his position even he is facing issues on a corruption scandal resulted criticisms to President Park from the opposition parties.
The new appointed Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism is a former gender minister named Cho Yoon-sun. While the new leader of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is the CEO of Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation named Kim Jae-soo.
Cho Kyeung-kyu, a deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination under the Prime Minister's Office was appointed as the new Environment Minister.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is the only Cabinet member to remain in office since the inauguration of President Park in February 2013.
The three are subject to National Assembly confirmation hearings. Once confirmed, it will be the new culture minister Cho's third position in the administration of Park Geun-hye. From June 2014 to May 2015, Cho worked as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs at Cheong Wa Dae.
Because of the popularity of South Korea's culture exports which includes pop music and soap operas in China, Japan and other Asian countries, the Park administration thinks that the culture industry is a future growth engine of the country.
In relation to that, Cho, who served as the closest aides of the President for many years is regarded as a right leader to lead the prosperity in culture made by Park.
"The culture minister nominee has a deep understanding of the culture and arts, and well understands the president's philosophy in running the country. Based on her ample experience both in government and legislative affairs, we believe she will contribute to the advancement of tourism, culture and related areas," Kim Sung-woo said.
Woo, the senior civil affairs secretary, is under a great pressure to step down following a series of corruption allegations involving his family, and raising speculation that the president may have replaced him.
Furthermore, because Woo retained in his position, this only means that the head of state still have trust in him.
"Despite many allegations surrounding him, nothing has turned out to be true, so we have no reason to replace him," Cheong Wa Dae official said.
The opposition parties complained due to the exemption of Woo in the reshuffle of officials saying that the presidential office is biased.
"Above all, it is unbelievable that Woo, facing various suspicions, was not replaced. In addition, those who are included in the reshuffle were confirmed by Woo and we are not sure whether the embattled secretary did that correctly," Park Kwang-on, a spokesman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea said.
"What the people wanted was for Woo to be replaced, but this reshuffle will only deject them more," the minor People's Party also said.
