Selection of Principled and Opposition Figures... Jeong Seyeon's Inclusive Move

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the 'COVID-19 Experts Meeting' held on the 12th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is recruiting Kim Hae-young, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea who is not afraid to voice 'harsh criticism' within the ruling party, as the Vice Chair of the Youth Policy Coordination Committee. He also decided to bring in former United Future Party lawmaker Shin Bo-ra as a civilian member of the Youth Policy Coordination Committee. This move is seen as a step toward 'pragmatic personnel' that transcends political factions with the next presidential election in mind. Analysts also interpret this as a personnel move preparing for a presidential race against Lee Nak-yeon, chairman of the Democratic Party's COVID-19 National Crisis Management Committee, who is currently dominating the ruling party.

According to political circles on the 12th, Prime Minister Chung is considering appointing Supreme Council member Kim as the Vice Chair of the Youth Policy Coordination Committee, which will be launched in August following the enforcement of the Youth Basic Act. The Youth Policy Coordination Committee is an organization established under the Prime Minister's Office to deliberate and coordinate major youth policy matters. Prime Minister Chung will serve as the chair, and one of the two vice chairs will be Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance.

Prime Minister Chung's personnel move is evaluated as a political step toward the next presidential election. Supreme Council member Kim is regarded as a youth representative politician within the party, having served as co-chair of the Democratic Party's Youth Future Council and acting chair of the National Youth Committee. Currently, as the only Supreme Council member from the Busan region, she is active in the party leadership and demonstrates a strong stance that does not hesitate to voice criticism within the ruling party. For this reason, it is analyzed that Prime Minister Chung is recruiting Kim to secure support from the Yeongnam region and the youth generation.

In addition, Prime Minister Chung has brought in former lawmaker Shin, who was part of the United Future Party leadership, as a civilian member. It is known that Shin accepted the position because the Youth Basic Act was the party's first bill and not a subject of partisan conflict, allowing for sufficient expression of opinions. Nonetheless, it is unusual for a former leader of the main opposition party to join a government committee, and Prime Minister Chung's recruitment of Shin is seen as an effort to imprint an image of 'inclusiveness,' 'cooperation,' and 'pragmatism.'

There is also an interpretation that Prime Minister Chung's pragmatic personnel move is conscious of Chairman Lee, his rival in the presidential race. Chairman Lee has recently been expanding his contacts with party insiders and outsiders in a broad campaign to run for party leadership. Although competitors cite the 'separation of party leadership and presidential candidacy' rule to check him, his bid for party leadership has become a given. As Prime Minister Chung, a government official, must keep a distance from Yeouido politics, he lacks means to check Chairman Lee's moves. Therefore, it is observed that he is fully utilizing personnel authority within the Prime Minister's Office to expand his influence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.