S. Korean president reshuffles cabinet
SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in reshuffled his cabinet on Friday as his approval rating sank to a record low amid a backlash over housing policies, rising coronavirus cases, and a scandal involving the justice ministry and top prosecutors.
Moon nominated new ministers of interior, health, land and housing, and gender as he sought to refresh his administration, with roughly two years of his presidency to run.
Limited to a single term, and holding a small parliamentary majority, there is no obvious risk to Moon’s presidency, but the drop in ratings, a resurgence of coronavirus cases and nagging domestic controversies could make it harder for him to fulfil his agenda.
Key goals include reforming the prosecutor’s office, and launching an ambitious green new deal initiative to go net zero carbon by 2050. While the ruling Democratic Party’s majority is uncomfortably slim, the opposition, luckily for Moon, has struggled to recover from the disarray caused by the scandals that brought down his conservative predecessor.
Moon had earned higher approval ratings earlier in the year for the government’s success in handling the first wave of the coronavirus epidemic, but it is now facing difficulties containing a third wave.
On Friday, South Korea recorded 629 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, the highest daily tally in about nine months.
The outgoing health minister had faced questions over some decisions, including a relatively slow process to procure vaccines.
A survey by pollster Realmeter showed Moon’s approval ratings fell to 37.5%, down from 43.8% the previous week.
A Gallup Korea poll put his approval rating at 39%, revisiting lows recorded by that survey since he came into office in 2017. Respondents cited Moon’s failure to rein in sky-rocketing housing prices, despite multiple mortgage curbs and other measures, as the main reason for marking him down.
“A reshuffle is good when it comes to a quick response, but unless the policy is altered, a change in minister won’t bring any changes to the current housing market situation or the political row involving the prosecutor general,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul.