Appeal from planning minister

Planning and budget minister Jeon Yun-Churl has made an unusual plea for the ruling party to refrain from influence peddling over the appointment of leaders of public corporations. It is easy to see the unbearable weight of the pressure over personnel affairs coming from the political community that has forced him to make such an open appeal.

During a meeting with leaders of the Millennium Democratic Party Friday the minister reminded the conferees of mounting criticism against unfair appointments to public corporations. Jeon`s statement is worthy of note as it came just before the May to June season of sweeping personnel reshuffles in state-invested corporations and other government-controlled organizations. Word has been going around that the ruling party and its coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats, are vying with each other to bid for high positions in public corporations at this time – most certainly the last chance to grab political spoils before the incumbent administration comes to an end. We wait eagerly to see how political parties will react to Jeon`s appeal.

A whole raft of complaints has been voiced that most key posts in government and at these public corporations have been filled by people hailing from a certain region. The government party that had long been in opposition must have many loyalists who needed to be rewarded and given favors. Nevertheless, politicians ought to know that giving unwarranted and preferential political appointees their place in the sun has disheartened many of the career staff of these corporations and had a negative effect on their managerial efficiency. Thrusting inexperienced and incompetent figures into unfit positions has generated unnecessary internal discord and retarded reforms. The government and ruling party should reflect upon their mistake on this score.

Over a month ago the government promised to create a manpower pool with the participation of independent experts and entrepreneurs from which to draw candidates for public corporations and prevent meddling in personnel appointments; however, it is questionable to what extent this would have the motivation to operate successfully. Only the complete independence of the proposed body could preclude partisan influence peddling from personnel appointments.

Realistically speaking, ministers and other department heads are hardly to be expected to offer firm resistance against political and partisan influence and pressure in personnel administration because they are affected by such influences and pressures themselves. Minister Jeon made a case others could hardly dare to bring up. His intention deserves to be respected as it is seen to speak for his commitment to appoint executives in accordance with strictly objective criteria and rule out political influence.

We will keep watching how well political parties abstain from using their influence and pressure in seeking appointments at public corporations. Since inept management of public corporations would result in draining the state’s coffers, any influence peddling and undue exercise of partisan pressure must be eliminated in order to reduce the burden on taxpayers. It is about time Korea dumped the bad old practice of brandishing political influence and pressure in personnel matters.