President Yun Seok-yeol celebrates one month in office on the 10th. It can be said that the actions of the past month have shown a desirable appearance in that the basic principle and direction of the state government, which puts de-authorization and communication at the forefront, has broadened the national consensus. Following the tangible results in the recovery of the alliance, it can also be evaluated positively for its will and attitude to resolutely confront North Korea’s provocations in security and defense. However, there are many voices of concern about the fact that cooperation and economic revitalization are on the right track, and that the hiring of talents is dominated by people from the prosecution.
Upon inauguration, President Yoon moved the office of the president to Yongsan. However, the security vacuum that the Moon Jae-in administration had put forward while holding back did not occur. The open Blue House has already become a popular attraction and is loved by the people. Within 20 days of taking office, a supplementary budget of 62 trillion won was implemented to support small business owners and self-employed people affected by COVID-19. When they promised to straighten out the playground tilted toward the labor community and to eliminate regulations, large corporations competed and offered large-scale investment and employment plans worth 1,000 trillion won. The Korea-U.S. summit, held 11 days after the inauguration of the new government, elevated the alliance into an ‘economic security alliance’ that encompasses advanced technology and supply chains. His actions in communication with the public, such as meeting reporters on the way to work every morning, deserve high marks.
However, the fact that a large number of former prosecutors were employed in important positions such as the Presidential Office, the Financial Supervisory Service, and the National Intelligence Service is not pleasant. President Yoon did not back down, saying, “The personnel principle is to use talented people.” Poor personnel verification in the composition of the cabinet was also disappointing, with candidates for the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare dropping out midway.
It seems President Yoon’s style of rule is to keep promises and not to be left-handed. But in order to untangle the tangled thread, he must win the hearts of the people. The government needs a ‘devil’s spokesperson’. He is a person who deliberately raises criticisms and objections to the majority opinion. He cannot succeed if he falls into the ‘groupthink trap’ by grouping with like-minded people. In order to move forward to a broader and brighter future, President Yoon needs to keep in mind the integration of a larger framework and the recruitment of a wide range of talent.
