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Dongduk Women’s University halts coeducation talks
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Two jailed for forcing disabled teens into prostitution
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South Korean military plans to launch new division for future warfare
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Teen smoking, drinking decline, while mental health, dietary habits worsen
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North Korean leader ‘convinced’ dialogue won’t change US hostility
박근혜 대통령이 17일 윤진숙 해양수산부 장관 후보자의 임명을 감행했다.
윤 후보는 지난 2일 국회 인사청문회에서 기본적인 질문에도 ‘모르쇠’로 일관하는 등 불성실한 답변 태도로 야당은 물론 여당에서도 사퇴 압박을 받았다. 거센 자질 논란에도 불구하고 박 대통령은 “윤 후보자는 실력이 많다. 마음을 가다듬어 열심히 해보겠다고 하니 지켜보고 도와달라”며 임명 강행의사를 밝힌 바 있다.
윤 후보는 지난 2일 국회 인사청문회에서 기본적인 질문에도 ‘모르쇠’로 일관하는 등 불성실한 답변 태도로 야당은 물론 여당에서도 사퇴 압박을 받았다. 거센 자질 논란에도 불구하고 박 대통령은 “윤 후보자는 실력이 많다. 마음을 가다듬어 열심히 해보겠다고 하니 지켜보고 도와달라”며 임명 강행의사를 밝힌 바 있다.
민주 통합당은 이와 관련, “민심 폭발의 뇌관을 건드리는 위험천만한 일”이라며 거세게 비난했다. 박용진 대변인은 브리핑에서 “윤진숙 임명 감행은 국민과 국회를 무시하는 결정이자 또 다른 불통정치의 시작”이라며 “박 대통령이 부적격자에게 임명장을 건네주는 순간 국민은 신뢰를 거둬들였고 남은 것은 민심과의 험난한 불화일 뿐”이라고 주장했다.
앞서 박기춘 원내대표는 비상대책회의에서 “윤 후보자 임명은 ‘인사 참사’의 화룡점정이 될 것”이라며 “대통령이 두고 두고 화근거리를 안고 가게 되는 결과가 될 것임을 분명히 경고해둔다”고 말했다.
반면 새누리당은 윤 장관 임명과 관해 “각고의 분투노력으로 국민의 우려가 기우였음을 입증해야 할 것”이라고 논평했다. 이날 이상일 새누리당 대변인은 “윤 장관의 업무능력과 역량에 대해 많은 국민이 의구심을 갖고 있는 것은 사실”이라면서도 “윤 장관도 이런 사실을 잘 알고 있을 것인 만큼 오늘부터 남다른 각오로 일을 해야 할 것이다.”라고 주문했다.
박 대통령은 근래에 들어 추경안과 부동산 대책 관련 법안 등 주요 사안을 두고 여당의 협조를 구해왔다. 특히 지난 11일 정부의 대북 대화 제의, 12일 민주당 지도부와의 만찬 회동 등을 통해 여야 화해 기류를 조성해 왔으나 이번 임명으로 1주일 도 채 못되어 다시 교착 상태로 전환한 국면이다. 당장 4월 임시국회에 계류된 각종 법안들이 표류할 가능성을 배제할 수 없다.
박 대통령은 지지도는 연이은 인사 실패로 인해 취임 직후부터 하락, 현재 40 퍼센트 대에 머물고 있다.
박 대통령은 이날 윤 후보자와 최문기 미래창조과학부 장관 후보자, 이경재 방송통신 위원장 후보자, 채동욱 검찰총장에게 임명장을 수여했다. 이들 중 채 총창을 제외한 3명은 국회 인사청문회 후 야당의 반대로 청문보고서 채택이 무산된 상태였다. 이 날로써 박근혜 정부는 출범 52일만에 17개 부처 장관을 모두 임명해 새정부 내각 구성이 완료됐다.
한편, 지난 15일 임명장을 받은 이헌수 국가 정보원 기획조정 실장이 10여 년 전 국정원 직원 수십 명으로 하여금 지인이 운영하는 화장품 제조업체의 비상장 주식에 투자하도록 알선했으며, 이 업체의 악재 공개 가능성을 인지하자 60% 수익을 얹어 투자금을 되돌려 받도록 했다는 언론보도가 발표되었다.
언론 보도가 사실로 밝혀지면 국정원 직원이 재테크에 지위를 활용한 책임과, 국정원 전체 예산과 조직 관리를 책임지는 실장직에 재테크에 열심이었던 인사는 부적합하다는 지적을 피하기 어려울 것으로 보인다.
이에 대해 이 실장은 지인의 사업이 힘든 상황이라 선의로 국정원 직원을 포함해 30여명을 소개해 준 것이 전부이며, 본인도 투자금을 회수하지 못했다고 해명했다. (코리아 헤럴드 이주희 기자/번역 이상주)
<관련 영어 기사>
Park names controversial maritime minister
By Lee Joo-hee
President Park Geun-hye went ahead with the appointment of controversial maritime minister Yoon Jin-sook on Wednesday, quashing the reconciliatory mood with the opposition party that called it the “ultimate appointment debacle.”
Park brushed aside the Democratic United Party’s demand that she reconsider her unpopular choice, despite Cheong Wa Dae’s increased contacts with opposing lawmakers for their cooperation in getting major government bills passed.
Along with Yoon, Science Minister Choi Mun-kee, prosecutor-general Chae Dong-wook and Korea Communications Commission chairman Lee Kyeong-jae were formally named to their posts. Lee Heon-su, a former National Intelligence Service official, will be heading the security agency’s office of planning and coordination. This completed Park’s appointments, which took 52 days from the launch of the new administration.
The DUP immediately denounced the move, as the leadership faced growing internal criticism for “caving in” to Park’s gesture without accomplishing tangible results, namely the resignation of Yoon, who critics have said lacks competency.
The ruling Saenuri Party, meanwhile, appeared more cautious, apparently anxious not to hurt its chances of winning the April 24 by-elections in which independent candidate Ahn Cheon-soo is running.
“Cheong Wa Dae should bear sole responsibility over political deadlock or political burden that follows the personal appointment,” DUP spokesman Yoon Kwan-seok said.
The ruling Saenuri Party did its best to undermine the shortfalls represented in the confirmation hearing.
“It appears that candidate Yoon fell short of making sufficient preparation for the confirmation hearing rather than it being the problem of her ability,” Rep. Yoo Il-ho of the Saenuri Party was quoted as saying.
The DUP, nonetheless, took issue with her competence.
“It is the nadir of the appointment debacle for Park to have named Yoon as the minister. We warn that Park will continue to carry with her the controversial issue in the future,” sources said.
DUP floor leader Park Ki-choon took a step further in denouncing Park’s decision, saying, “It is highly regrettable that the situation has reached this point despite the opposition from the people and the National Assembly. The future of the oceans ministry is dark.”
Relations between Park and the National Assembly have been frayed since the launch of her presidential transitional committee, as she has been seen to bypass the views of the ruling party in her policymaking process, and shunning communication with the opposition.
Park had gestured toward reconciliation, inviting the DUP leadership and the heads of each standing committee for dinner over the past week.
Cheong Wa Dae needs parliamentary support to implement supplementary budget plans to prepare for an anticipated economic downturn and tax revenue shortfall. It also needs approval from the National Assembly to pass its real estate stimulation measures, one of the first such large-scale plans to be devised by the new government.
Park’s approval ratings have continued to slide since her election and currently hover around 40 percent, namely due to repeated personnel appointment flops that resulted in at least five of her nominees to top government posts resigning.
The opposition forces, meanwhile, raised questions over Park’s earlier choices.
According to a Korean-language daily, Lee Heon-su in 2000 allegedly recommended several of his employees to invest in stocks of his acquaintance’s company. He reportedly arranged for the investors to resell the stocks before the anticipated drop of the relevant stock price. The NIS denied all such allegations.
(jhl@heraldcorp.com)
Park names controversial maritime minister
By Lee Joo-hee
President Park Geun-hye went ahead with the appointment of controversial maritime minister Yoon Jin-sook on Wednesday, quashing the reconciliatory mood with the opposition party that called it the “ultimate appointment debacle.”
Park brushed aside the Democratic United Party’s demand that she reconsider her unpopular choice, despite Cheong Wa Dae’s increased contacts with opposing lawmakers for their cooperation in getting major government bills passed.
Along with Yoon, Science Minister Choi Mun-kee, prosecutor-general Chae Dong-wook and Korea Communications Commission chairman Lee Kyeong-jae were formally named to their posts. Lee Heon-su, a former National Intelligence Service official, will be heading the security agency’s office of planning and coordination. This completed Park’s appointments, which took 52 days from the launch of the new administration.
The DUP immediately denounced the move, as the leadership faced growing internal criticism for “caving in” to Park’s gesture without accomplishing tangible results, namely the resignation of Yoon, who critics have said lacks competency.
The ruling Saenuri Party, meanwhile, appeared more cautious, apparently anxious not to hurt its chances of winning the April 24 by-elections in which independent candidate Ahn Cheon-soo is running.
“Cheong Wa Dae should bear sole responsibility over political deadlock or political burden that follows the personal appointment,” DUP spokesman Yoon Kwan-seok said.
The ruling Saenuri Party did its best to undermine the shortfalls represented in the confirmation hearing.
“It appears that candidate Yoon fell short of making sufficient preparation for the confirmation hearing rather than it being the problem of her ability,” Rep. Yoo Il-ho of the Saenuri Party was quoted as saying.
The DUP, nonetheless, took issue with her competence.
“It is the nadir of the appointment debacle for Park to have named Yoon as the minister. We warn that Park will continue to carry with her the controversial issue in the future,” sources said.
DUP floor leader Park Ki-choon took a step further in denouncing Park’s decision, saying, “It is highly regrettable that the situation has reached this point despite the opposition from the people and the National Assembly. The future of the oceans ministry is dark.”
Relations between Park and the National Assembly have been frayed since the launch of her presidential transitional committee, as she has been seen to bypass the views of the ruling party in her policymaking process, and shunning communication with the opposition.
Park had gestured toward reconciliation, inviting the DUP leadership and the heads of each standing committee for dinner over the past week.
Cheong Wa Dae needs parliamentary support to implement supplementary budget plans to prepare for an anticipated economic downturn and tax revenue shortfall. It also needs approval from the National Assembly to pass its real estate stimulation measures, one of the first such large-scale plans to be devised by the new government.
Park’s approval ratings have continued to slide since her election and currently hover around 40 percent, namely due to repeated personnel appointment flops that resulted in at least five of her nominees to top government posts resigning.
The opposition forces, meanwhile, raised questions over Park’s earlier choices.
According to a Korean-language daily, Lee Heon-su in 2000 allegedly recommended several of his employees to invest in stocks of his acquaintance’s company. He reportedly arranged for the investors to resell the stocks before the anticipated drop of the relevant stock price. The NIS denied all such allegations.
(jhl@heraldcorp.com)
