[Editorial] "Circulatory" Shake-up of Presidential Office

The recent reshuffle in the office of the president was very disappointing. That fell short of public expectations for specialty and diversity. Even if the president could argue for his own right to choose his staff, he should think about the public’s disappointment and concerns about state affairs.

Since the inauguration of the new government, there have been indications that the presidential office lacks specialty and diversity. People have raised questions as to whether the presidential office, mainly comprised of young figures who contributed a great deal to the election of Roh, has a good understanding of national affairs, and whether it could accept ideas even from those with politically different opinions. Some people even described President Roh`s staff as amateurish. At this time again the president failed to meet people`s expectations for the appointment of competent staff members through the reshuffle.

The principle of rewarding merit and letting fault go punished was not observed in this reshuffle. The president reemployed those who had already proved unqualified and did not hold accountable those who should be held accountable. Against this backdrop, some critics say that the president is very compassionate in terms of personnel affairs. The president himself contended that the term of validity for those who played a great role in his election is only 6 months. Even many ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) members are voicing opposition to the recent reshuffle of the presidential office. However, their opposition only falls on the president`s deaf ears.

The president was mistaken when he considered the parliamentary elections next year in the shake-up. He had some secretaries step down to run for the National Assembly in next year’s elections. It seems that the post of presidential secretary is only a springboard to win a parliamentary seat. Other presidential secretaries` resignations might ensue. The report that President Roh persuaded Secretary for General Affairs Choi Do-sul to run for the National Assembly in his former electorate in Busan reminds us of the three Kims.