[Politics, That Day...] Ministry of Unification's Status During the Participatory Government... Top Priority Ministry for Presidential Candidates Wishing to Join Cabinet

Jeong Dong-yeong and Kim Geun-tae Entered as Ministers through the June 30, 2004 Cabinet Reshuffle... 'Omae Bulmang Tongilbu', Intensifying Interest in Appointment Competition

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, or figures.

Jeong Dong-yeong, leader of the Democratic Peace Party, is being interviewed on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

Politicians aiming to become the main figure of the Blue House must craft a so-called ‘political story’ well. They need to include points that move the public emotionally, and the titles they proudly put on their business cards are also important. This is because public evaluation can vary depending on what they did before becoming president.

Both in the past and now, entering the cabinet is one of the hopes of prominent politicians. For example, when prosecutorial reform emerges as the era’s key issue, the Minister of Justice inevitably becomes highly valuable, and if there is another pressing issue, the minister of the relevant department becomes the center of attention.

During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, the Ministry of Unification was exactly such an entity. It is a well-known anecdote that prominent politicians dreaming of becoming the next president competed earnestly to court the position of Minister of Unification during the Roh administration.

Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, was the last Minister of Unification under the Kim Dae-jung government and the first Minister of Unification under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Both presidents recognized Jeong’s expertise in inter-Korean relations.

When news spread in June 2004 that President Roh Moo-hyun would appoint a new Minister of Unification, the ruling party at the time (Uri Party) showed intense interest. There was even speculation that whoever secured the Minister of Unification position would gain an advantageous position in the next presidential race.

The leading presidential candidates of the Uri Party at the time showed pride and interest in the Minister of Unification position. The main figures were ‘politician Jeong Dong-young’ and ‘politician Kim Geun-tae.’ The Ministry of Unification inevitably led the inter-Korean relations project, a core national agenda of the Roh administration.

The late Assemblyman Kim Geun-tae

Becoming Minister of Unification naturally brings media spotlight, and if one achieves project success, their political stature can rise further. Since President Roh Moo-hyun had a keen interest in improving relations on the Korean Peninsula, the political status of the Ministry of Unification was also significant.

Both Representative Jeong Dong-young and Representative Kim Geun-tae, leading presidential candidates of the Uri Party, hoped to become Minister of Unification. Kim Geun-tae, a symbolic figure among opposition politicians, regarded peace on the Korean Peninsula and the promotion of human rights as his political philosophy and mission.

It is widely known that he was more interested in the Minister of Unification position than anyone else. Lee In-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (former floor leader) and Yoo Eun-hye, Minister of Education, both classified as part of the ‘GT faction (Kim Geun-tae faction),’ are figures deeply interested in peace on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations. This is not unrelated to the influence of their political mentor and lifelong comrade, Kim Geun-tae.

For Representative Jeong Dong-young, the Minister of Unification was an irreplaceable position. Jeong’s side was drawing a blueprint to achieve results in improving inter-Korean relations as Minister of Unification and then leverage that momentum to challenge the 2007 presidential election.

In fact, when Jeong Dong-young ran for president in 2007, he emphasized the keyword ‘Peace President.’ Even now, when asked about politician Jeong Dong-young’s greatest achievement, the Kaesong Industrial Complex project is mentioned.

The competition between Jeong Dong-young’s and Kim Geun-tae’s camps over the Minister of Unification position was so intense that it drew criticism both inside and outside the political circle. Ultimately, in the June 30, 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Jeong Dong-young was appointed Minister of Unification, and Kim Geun-tae took the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

In fact, welfare was an area to which President Roh Moo-hyun devoted as much effort as to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The evaluation continued that by including two ruling party lawmakers, Jeong Dong-young and Kim Geun-tae, in the cabinet to form the ‘second cabinet,’ President Roh provided them with an opportunity for presidential training.

The behind-the-scenes struggle over the Ministry of Unification position in June 2004 remains a topic in Yeouido’s political circles even 16 years later. Although it was a subject of criticism and controversy at the time, it is also a symbolic scene that reveals the status of the Ministry of Unification during the Roh administration.

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