The First Cabinet Meeting of the Yoon Administration on the 12th, Unavoidable Uneasy Coexistence with the Moon Administration

Among 13 candidates who completed the hearing, only 5 ministers adopted the progress report
Situation falls short of the 15-member quorum for the Cabinet meeting
Possibility of forcibly appointing minister candidates including Jeong Ho-young who requested resubmission
Possibility of postponing the Cabinet meeting to the 17th considering the Prime Minister's appointment consent

On the 9th, one day before the inauguration ceremony of the 20th president, staff members preparing for the ceremony are finishing up their work at the inauguration venue set up in front of the National Assembly main building. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] The Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which will be inaugurated tomorrow, will hold its first Cabinet meeting on the 12th. However, as ministerial appointments are facing difficulties, it seems inevitable that some members of the Moon Jae-in administration's Cabinet will attend. Nonetheless, considering the appointment of Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo and others, there are voices urging caution against forcibly appointing Cabinet members, and some suggest that the first Cabinet meeting should be held next week.

On the 9th, a key official from President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's camp stated, "We will hold the first Cabinet meeting this week," adding, "We will proceed even if we have to borrow ministers appointed by the Moon Jae-in administration," indicating a desire for a speedy process.

According to the Constitution, the Cabinet meeting, which deliberates on important policies under the government's authority, requires at least 15 Cabinet members. In the case of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, 13 Cabinet nominees have completed their confirmation hearings so far, but only 5 of them have had their reports adopted (Chu Kyung-ho, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; Lee Jong-ho, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT; Han Hwa-jin, nominee for Minister of Environment; Lee Jeong-sik, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor; Lee Jong-sup, nominee for Minister of National Defense). Including Jeong Ho-kyun, nominee for Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Cho Seung-hwan, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, whose hearing reports are being discussed in the National Assembly today, the total comes to 7.

President-elect Yoon has requested the submission of personnel hearing reports for nominees Jeong Ho-young for Minister of Health and Welfare, Won Hee-ryong for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Park Bo-gyun for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee Sang-min for Minister of the Interior and Safety, and Park Jin for Minister of Foreign Affairs by today. If the National Assembly does not comply with the resubmission schedule by today, President-elect Yoon will have the conditions to appoint these ministerial nominees. If he chooses to proceed with the appointments of these nominees whose reports were requested for resubmission, he will secure 10 Cabinet members.

On the 9th, one day before the inauguration ceremony of the 20th president, staff members preparing for the ceremony are finishing up their work at the inauguration venue set up in front of the National Assembly main building. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

However, since the appointment consent bill for Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo has not been processed, if Deputy Prime Minister nominee Chu is appointed in the form of a proposal by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, it is expected that Deputy Prime Minister Chu will act as the Prime Minister's proxy and propose the ministerial nominees. As the Yoon Suk-yeol administration lacks the quorum to open the Cabinet meeting with its own personnel, attendance by ministers from the Moon Jae-in administration is inevitable.

The reason the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is pushing forward with the Cabinet meeting is the urgent need to pass the supplementary budget bill. The Ministry of Economy and Finance plans to announce a supplementary budget of about 35 trillion won as early as the 12th, have it approved by the Cabinet meeting, and then submit it to the National Assembly.

However, there are also cautious voices. Since the appointment consent bill for Prime Minister nominee Han remains pending, forcibly appointing ministers could further delay Han's confirmation. The Democratic Party of Korea is challenging the administration to proceed if it dares. Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at an emergency meeting held today, "The Prime Minister is supposed to receive the appointment consent from the National Assembly after taking office," adding, "They are talking about obstruction before following legal procedures." A Democratic Party official also said, "If ministers without adopted hearing reports are appointed, the vote on the Prime Minister nominee will naturally be rejected."

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Park Joo-sun, Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Preparation Committee, at the disbandment ceremony of the Presidential Transition Committee held on the afternoon of the 6th at the Presidential Transition Committee in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps

Accordingly, there is talk within the President-elect's camp that the first Cabinet meeting could be held on the 17th. Prime Minister Kim is also reported to have expressed his intention to work until the 16th for this reason. This gives President-elect Yoon some time to persuade the National Assembly.

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