The Democratic Party of Korea recently criticized the public institution appointments carried out by the Yoon Suk-yeol government. With the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol nearing its conclusion, there are allegations of the so-called 'crony appointments' made as heads of public institutions. Previously, the Democratic Party indicated it would promote a policy to align the terms of public institution heads with the presidential term to prevent crony appointments by the Yoon government.

Jin Seong-jun, the chair of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, is speaking at the National Assembly Countermeasure Meeting held at the Democratic Party's tent office near Gyeongbokgung in Seoul on Oct. 25. On the left is Park Chan-dae, the floor leader./Courtesy of News1

Chairman Jin Sung-jun of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee noted during a parliamentary countermeasure meeting held on the morning of the 25th at the party's tent headquarters in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, "As the impeachment ruling against Yoon Suk-yeol approaches, the government's crony appointments are being carried out blatantly."

Chairman Jin stated, "Just the crony appointments identified since the illegal martial law amount to 63 appointments across 15 institutions, along with 41 currently under recruitment, exceeding 100 in total," and emphasized, "These appointments are being carried out comprehensively throughout departments and institutions." He further added, "They are all unqualified and lack verification of expertise, blind appointments."

The crony appointments mentioned by the Democratic Party include ▲ Choi Chun-sik, former lawmaker of the People Power Party, as the chairman of the Korea Petroleum Management Agency ▲ Lee Joo-soo, former Seoul City Council member of the People Power Party, as the CEO of the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation ▲ Yoo Jong-pil, former special advisor to Yoon Suk-yeol’s presidential transition committee, as the head of the Korea Startup Promotion Agency.

Chairman Jin remarked, "The Yoon Suk-yeol government seems determined to award positions to those sympathetic to insurrection rather than reflecting on its actions," and pointed out, "The president's duties have been suspended due to insurrection, yet they are desperate to fill positions with unqualified close associates amidst the national chaos."

He further stated, "The Democratic Party will announce that it will push for a revision of the Public Institution Management Act to synchronize the terms of the president and public institution heads to prevent the recurrence of crony appointments," adding, "The impeachment target ordered by the public is not limited to Yoon Suk-yeol personally but extends to the entire incompetent and arrogant administration."