First Day of “Far-out” Ministers

The first day of President Roh`s first cabinet, especially those in their 40s, started with small surprises. They are the Ministers of Justice, Government Administration and Home Affairs, and Culture and Tourism. One of them suggested a ‘hallway meeting’ regardless of positions while another said he would not wear the badge of Members of the State Council. “Big surprises” are yet to be shown, but they are big enough to signal changes in the way the Ministers work.

▽No badges of Members of the State Council; Minister of Culture and Tourism Lee Chang-dong, who drew public attention by arriving at the inauguration ceremony in his own Santa Fe car, said Thursday, “From now on, I will drive my car or take subway to commute except formal events. And I won’t wear a badge of Members of the State Council.”

Minister Lee was briefed in a day, although it usually takes 2-3 days. He did not sit on the top seat of his, but sat face-to-face with directors and heads who give a report. He mostly listened and did not comment much. Also, he had a light lunch during the briefing of the Planning and Management Office.

The minister turned back a newspaper copy that the Public Information Office sent to his house in Ilsan, Koyang, after returning home Thursday night and said, “Don’t send the newspaper to my home from now on.” He also added that he would not follow a custom to pay a courtesy visit to media companies.

▽A hallway meeting will destroy the barriers of positions; Kim Doo-kwan, Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs(MOGAHA), who started working Friday, had flushed cheeks all day long. He seemed to be prudent in speaking. He greeted but did not talk much when he visited all the MOGAHA offices and met each official from 3 pm. Notably, however, he bowed politely to some director that he knew as county chief of Namhae.

Minister Kim suggested an informal hallway meeting, limiting the briefing to 20 minutes.

In the meantime, he gave some time to the officials by ordering them to start briefing from next Tuesday. The officials sensed that there would be a great change among officials of home affairs.

▽Minister who uses a term of respect; Officials of the Ministry of Justice could feel changes in the languages and formality from Minister Kang Kum-sil Friday.

Minister Kang came to the office around 9 am, and asked in earnest when ordering after the briefing by Lee Chun-sung, an information officer. She cited human rights of foreign workers, the bill of special council on illegal money transfer to North Korea as examples and said, “Please file a big social issue first.”

“The minister seemed to be informal to the directors and heads because she knows the former ministers from the Prosecutions,” an official said. “It feels good that the Minister addresses honorifically but a little uncomfortable at the same time.”

When running into the press around 2 pm, Minister Kang gave a big smile and said, “I am sorry to give you trouble.”