South Korea President appoints new ministers
Thursday, August 7, 2008
SOUTH KOREA'S President Lee Myung-Bak yesterday officially appointed three new cabinet ministers, skipping the customary confirmation hearings amid a parliamentary deadlock.
But the main opposition party said the move would prolong the deadlock and termed it a "declaration of war" by the president.
Lee sacked his agriculture, health and education ministers in June in the wake of mass protests against US beef imports which shook his government.
He named replacements at the time but the customary confirmation hearings could not be held because parliamentary business was on hold.
A new parliament elected in April finally convened in early July after opposition legislators ended a six-week boycott called to protest the resumption of the beef imports.
But the opposition has since been locked in a bitter dispute with Lee's ruling Grand National Party (GNP) over how to form new standing committees, delaying the confirmation hearings, which are not mandatory.
"The three ministers who were named earlier received letters of appointment today," a presidential spokesman said.
The GNP said the appointment was inevitable as legislators had missed a July 30 deadline to examine the ministers.
Chung Sye-Kyun, head of the opposition Democratic Party, warned that the parliament would remain deadlocked.
"We regard the unilateral appointment as a declaration of war," he said.
Ahn Byong-Man, a former presidential adviser for state planning, was appointed minister of education, science and technology.
Jang Tae-Pyoung, former chief of a state anti-corruption panel, was designated minister of food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Jeon Jae-Hee, a female lawmaker from the GNP, became minister of health, welfare and family affairs.
The government's decision in April to resume US beef imports, in a bid to pave the way for a wider bilateral free trade agreement, led to months of mass rallies over the supposed dangers of mad cow disease. Protests have largely subsided since Seoul secured extra health safeguards for imports. But some hardcore activists continue to campaign.AFP
But the main opposition party said the move would prolong the deadlock and termed it a "declaration of war" by the president.
Lee sacked his agriculture, health and education ministers in June in the wake of mass protests against US beef imports which shook his government.
He named replacements at the time but the customary confirmation hearings could not be held because parliamentary business was on hold.
A new parliament elected in April finally convened in early July after opposition legislators ended a six-week boycott called to protest the resumption of the beef imports.
But the opposition has since been locked in a bitter dispute with Lee's ruling Grand National Party (GNP) over how to form new standing committees, delaying the confirmation hearings, which are not mandatory.
"The three ministers who were named earlier received letters of appointment today," a presidential spokesman said.
The GNP said the appointment was inevitable as legislators had missed a July 30 deadline to examine the ministers.
Chung Sye-Kyun, head of the opposition Democratic Party, warned that the parliament would remain deadlocked.
"We regard the unilateral appointment as a declaration of war," he said.
Ahn Byong-Man, a former presidential adviser for state planning, was appointed minister of education, science and technology.
Jang Tae-Pyoung, former chief of a state anti-corruption panel, was designated minister of food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Jeon Jae-Hee, a female lawmaker from the GNP, became minister of health, welfare and family affairs.
The government's decision in April to resume US beef imports, in a bid to pave the way for a wider bilateral free trade agreement, led to months of mass rallies over the supposed dangers of mad cow disease. Protests have largely subsided since Seoul secured extra health safeguards for imports. But some hardcore activists continue to campaign.AFP
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