It was reported on the 19th that Cheong Wa Dae is reviewing a "mid-scale cabinet reshuffle." With negative public opinion over real estate policy driving President Lee Jae-myung's approval to its lowest since taking office, voices within the ruling bloc say a reset of the state agenda's mood is needed.
Two ministerial posts are already vacant. At the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the minister's seat became vacant when Han Seong-sook moved to the prime minister's office on the 1st of last month. The Ministry of Justice is also seeking a successor after Minister Jung Sung-ho submitted a resignation.
Departments related to real estate policy are also being mentioned as targets for the reshuffle. Following the tax reform plan, measures on dwellings supply and financial measures were announced, but negative public opinion has not subsided.
In a telephone interview survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 11th to the 13th, negative assessments (46%) of the president's management of state affairs surpassed positive assessments (44%) for the first time. The No. 1 reason for negative assessments (30%) was real estate policy. In another poll conducted by Realmeter at the request of Energy Economy News of 2,511 voters aged 18 or older nationwide from the 10th to the 14th, the positive rating for Lee's job performance was 43%, the lowest since taking office. The negative rating was 54.1%.
A key ruling-party official said, "All along, Lee has said multiple times he would not do a 'cabinet reshuffle to change the narrative,' but it appears this stance is shifting recently." The official added, "Policy is hard to change abruptly because it requires listening to various opinions and making fixes, but a reshuffle can be an immediate signal that public sentiment is being heeded."
Cheong Wa Dae is said to be especially agonizing over the appointment of the Minister of Justice. Minister Jung Sung-ho had clashed with hard-liners in the Democratic Party while arguing to maintain the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority. When the issue of supplementary investigation authority emerged as a key flashpoint between pro-Lee and pro-office factions during the party convention period, Cheong Wa Dae tossed the matter to the National Assembly, and the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act centered on abolishing the supplementary investigation authority passed the plenary session.
A Democratic Party lawmaker from the pro-Lee camp said, "If Cheong Wa Dae starts discussions to supplement the Criminal Procedure Act, conflict between the party and the office could reemerge," adding, "Depending on who becomes the next Minister of Justice, there are concerns that clashes between pro-Lee and pro-office factions could spiral out of control."
For detailed information on the polls cited in this article, refer to the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website (www.nesdc.go.kr/portal/main.do).