[Opinion] Personnel Decisions of Political Handouts

From President to heads of regional governments, the basic principle in personnel decision is right person at the right post. There is no need to mention that the process of personnel decisions must be fair and clear. However, looking at some of the personnel decisions by the regional governments, it is difficult to shake the uneasy feeling.

Lim Chang-ryul, whose term of Kyunggi Province governor runs out at the end of June promoted 19 officials including directors a few days ago. In particular, Lim called back an official with political background as the director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs (a class 3 regional government post), who was sent to the director of Bureau of Women’s Affairs at the second provincial office. This could only be called a typical “good will” personnel decision prior to he leaves office.

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said that it sent regional governments that “there should be no friction between those leaving the office and the elected official regarding personnel appointments during the remainder of the terms.” Sohn Hak-kyu, governor-elect of Kyunggi Province heard about the appointments in a meeting with Lim and made it clear to Lim that he does not agree with the appointments. Such appointments by Lim despite Sohn’s objection is obstruction of provincial affairs.

Government officials are already uneasy enough about the impending personnel shifts that many of the heads of regional governments have been changed in the June 13 election. Some of the uneasiness has been caused by some officials who tried to make connections with certain candidates during the election. However, if regional government organization is shaken every time heads are replaced, attempts to make political connections are sure to increase.

Newly elected regional government officials must also be fair in their personnel decisions when they begin their terms of office. They must remember that personnel decisions with disregard for ability and integrity such as decisions based on connections, retribution, regionalism would shake the regional government, which is the very foundation of grass root democracy.