Park Joo-sun: "'Seo-o-nam' Transition Team Reflects Yoon's Personnel Principles Emphasizing Ability and Experience"

24 Transition Committee Members... Average Age 57.6, 20 Men, 13 from Seoul National University
Park Juseon: "Not Selected Just Because They Are Seoul National University Students, Nor Excluding Specific Regions... The Transition Committee Has Goals"

Park Juseon, Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Preparation Committee, is being interviewed on the 17th at Shilla Stay in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As the selection of 24 members of the Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) was finalized, criticism arose that the committee was composed of 'Seo-o-nam' (Seoul National University men in their 50s). In response, Park Joo-sun, chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Preparation Committee, stated, "The personnel principles that emphasize the ability and experience of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol were reflected."

On the 18th, Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "I don't think we particularly selected more people just because they were Seoul National University graduates, nor did we exclude any specific region."

Regarding the criticism that the composition focused on 'Seo-o-nam' might marginalize diverse social voices, Park explained, "The President-elect has always advocated for national harmony and unity. The operation of the Transition Committee must go beyond the composition of personnel by background or region and focus on the committee's goals. Since it must play a role in realizing President-elect Yoon's political philosophy, I believe the committee will operate well, faithfully reflecting the people's will without concerns or worries."

Furthermore, on the issue of relocating the presidential office, Park said, "He wants to be a president who reduces the authoritarian aspects of the imperial presidential system," adding, "I heard that if the President-elect moves the Blue House to the Yongsan area, he intends to thoroughly review various issues in advance so that the public and those around him will not worry. The goal is to minimize public inconvenience and strengthen communication with the people, which is the president's core philosophy, making the Blue House a place that embodies this."

Regarding the postponement of the meeting between President-elect Yoon and President Moon Jae-in, Park said, "I do not have any knowledge beyond what has been reported in the media," but added, "I believe it is absolutely wrong to hold or not hold a meeting based on personal grievances or emotions."

Park expressed support for the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak. He said, "It should be done," noting, "President Lee Myung-bak is currently elderly and undergoing medical treatment, and he has spent a considerable time in prison."

He continued, "In the past, in 1997, even though former President Chun Doo-hwan and other military forces sentenced then President-elect Kim Dae-jung to death, for the sake of national unity and stability, then President Kim Young-sam requested a pardon before leaving office, which was granted and received much praise. We need to take such precedents as lessons," he added.

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