Go to contents

KCPB Under Fire Over Controversial Personnel Appointments

KCPB Under Fire Over Controversial Personnel Appointments

Posted July. 25, 2005 03:04,   

한국어

Once again, “revolving door personnel management” is causing controversy after it has been unofficially arranged that a person from the ruling party with no relevant career history to the new post, would become the next vice president of the Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB).

On July 24, the KCPB said that the president of KCPB Lee Seung-shin requested the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) to appoint an adviser to Hannuri Investment and Securities Corporation, Kim Cheol, as a replacement for the vice president whose term expired last month.

Under the Consumer Protection Law, the Minister of Finance and Economy appoints a vice-president of KCPB at the recommendation of president of KCPB.

The nominee Kim was a founder member of the Uri Party in October of 2003 and a representative of Central Committee. After that, Kim served as a chairman of the Special Venture Economy Committee. Kim also had been an assistant of lawmakers for 10 years.

The union of the KCPB is resisting the nomination of Kim, saying that “nominee Kim is a person with a political background and has no concern for the business of protecting consumers.” A union chairman, Lee Sang-geun, claimed, “The KCPB president hasn’t independently exercised his right to nominate an appointee, but the president recommended Kim under pressure from Cheong Wa Dae and the MOFE.” Lee further stated that the union will hold a protest rally against Cheong Wa Dae and the MOFE, block the vice-president from attending the KCPB, and go on strike until the high-handed personnel appointment is withdrawn.

The MOFE elucidated that only KCPB’s president recommended Kim for the appointment, and that the government didn’t recommend Kim for the KCPB.



Chang-Won Kim changkim@donga.com