Kim Jaewon: "Cabinet reshuffle intended to seize state affairs? The president should naturally seize state affairs"

KBS 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' Interview
"Government Must Follow Governance Philosophy to Realize People's Sovereignty"

Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, responded to evaluations that the first cabinet reshuffle of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is intended to strengthen state control by saying, "It is natural that the president must have state control so that the bureaucratic apparatus operates according to the president's governance philosophy, and only then can popular sovereignty be realized."

On the 30th, Kim appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' and stated, "Usually, when a regime changes, isn't it that the people elect the president to implement the direction and governance philosophy with which the president intends to lead the country?"

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the fact that five secretaries from the presidential office were massively appointed as vice ministers of government ministries in this reshuffle, Kim evaluated, "It is somewhat unusual to appoint so many vice ministers at once, and since such a large-scale appointment has not been made before, it seems to be attracting attention."

However, he added, "People keep framing this as an effort to increase state control, but in fact, the president must have state control."

He explained, "Looking back over the past 10 years, even within each ministry, those with decision-making power often resisted the president's governance philosophy or direction and practically did not act accordingly," and "this was often criticized externally as a lack of ministerial leadership or control."

Regarding criticisms that statements such as 'overthrowing the Kim Jong-un regime' by Kim Young-ho, the nominee for Minister of Unification, do not align with the nature of the ministry, he said, "Those working inside the organization are considerably constrained," and "Even if the nominee for Minister of Unification makes certain remarks, once they enter the organization and perform their duties, they will consider the current situation, how relations with North Korea have progressed, and how things will proceed in the future, and respond accordingly."

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