Roh Appoints Friends to High Places

The political affairs team of Cheong Wa Dae that was dissolved last year has begun operations again.

President Roh Moo-hyun opened the new position of presidential secretary of political affairs, which serves the head of political affairs team, and appointed Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Jung Tae-ho to this position. President Roh renamed the post of presidential secretary of planning and mediation to presidential secretary of planning and political affairs, and appointed So Moon-sang presidential secretary of planning and mediation to this position. Roh didn’t name a presidential political affairs secretary this time.

The political affairs team directly under the control of chief presidential secretary operates two secretariats: the presidential political affairs secretariat for the mediation of the current political issues and presidential secretariat of planning and political affairs for the research on political matters.

As a successor to spokesperson Jung Tae-ho, President Roh appointed his confidential retainer Yoon Tae-young, presidential secretary of speech and planning. Yoon who served as Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson for 14 months during the early part of the current administration came back to his former position. Experts view that this shows Roh’s intention to strengthen the publicity work, targeting the preparation of final stage of his term. Yoon held two positions for a while.

In addition to this, Cheong Wa Dae is considering the creation of presidential special secretary team of political affairs by increasing the number of special secretary of political affairs. By now, Lee Gang-chul, the former senior presidential secretary of civil society, is only one special secretary of political affairs.

The chief presidential secretary Lee Byung-wan lately said, “The political activities are expected to be more accurate and active next year and this year, so Cheong Wa Dae needs to prepare such circumstances and the ruling Uri Party also urged this change lately.”

On the other side, however, people criticize Cheong Wa Dae for breaking its promise of separation between parties and administration that was advocated when Cheong Wa Dae dissolved the political affairs team. Besides, people negatively respond the restore of the political affairs team, saying, “Do they want to return to the past?”

Meanwhile, some experts view that this action may stem from Roh’s plan for preparation of presidential election and concerns of his political status after the end of his term. This view gains confidence by Roh’s recent remarks. President Roh met senior members of the ruling Uri Party on August 6 and stated that he considered inviting figures outside the party as party’s candidates for presidential election. And at a meeting with senior members of the ruling Uri Party on August 20, Roh said, “I think I will live about 30 years more from now. I would like to work together with the Uri Party until I die. I also would like to become adviser of the party after leaving the office.” In regard to this, the fast move of Roh’s people such as Ahn Hee-jung, doubtless Roh`s right-hand man, who was released through special pardon of Independent Days in August 15, is particularly noticed these days.

About Roh’s recent action, politicians criticize that president should work hard to finish his term without noise and focus on the political policies that are addressed during change of administration. Despite this, Roh just pays attention to how to increase his influence in political events such as presidential election. One member of the opposition Grand National party said, “If President Roh loses his neutrality about presidential election, attempt to make influence in the election, and put the fair management of election back burners, it will call serious problems later.”

In regard to this, a source from Cheong Wa Dae said, “Now that President Roh gave up his absolute leadership, it is impossible to restore the former relationship between the party and Cheong Wa Dae,” adding, “President Roh just took such actions to facilitate the communication with the ruling party.”

jyw11@donga.com