April Elections: Run If You Want to Get Recognized in the Government

Some presidential aides and members of the cabinet are finding themselves under increasing pressure to run in the April National Assembly elections from pro-government forces.

“The president’s office and the government are now in a new mood to effectively urge us to run in the elections if we continue to work in the administration,” said a senior presidential aide on condition of anonymity. “The pressure was so intense that if some staff didn’t run, they would be seen as irresponsible.” Speculation has been raised that it is President Roh Moo-hyun that is making a make-or-die bet on the elections.

While President Roh said on one hand that “whether to run or not is up to them,” he also said that “if they want to debut in politics I won’t stop them.” That raises concerns over President Roh’s intervention in the selection of pro-government National Assembly candidates.

“If you want to stay, change the horse,” a senior presidential aide said, “There is speculation that there will be an overhaul of the presidential office and the cabinet after the elections. If everything changes after the elections, anyone who wants to continue to work in this administration must change the horse,’ said the aide, using rhetoric. “It is true that this is an agony for those who are being considered as possible candidates.” “Change the house” refers to ‘run in the election”

Asked whether or not he has been prodded to run, he declined to answer.

As for the possibility of running in the elections himself, he said that “I believe I don’t want to get involved in electoral politics, but because of frequent prodding, I sometimes think my belief is incorrect. He added that “when I came to work here in the president’s office, I decided to work just for one year. This amounts to face-losing for me.”

-Moon Jae-in Under Pressure

The Uri Party has reportedly been mounting pressure on Moon Jae-in, the president’s civil affairs secretary, Jeong Chan-yong, personnel adviser, and Park Ju-hyeon, participation and innovation adviser, to run for National Assembly seats.

A source close to the president’s office said that “Uri said those yokels who have been appointed presidential aides should pay back the president for his grace instead of going their own ways.”

Some Uri Party leaders went so far as to say that “since they enjoyed the power, they should run in the elections. Not running is tantamount to them not giving up perks and privileges.”

The pressure is also felt in the cabinet. A young presidential aide said that “Deputy Prime Minister Kim Jin-pyo and Justice Minister Kang Geum-sil are indebted to the president. It is time they showed their gratitude.”

Meanwhile, President Roh proposed that Park Nam-joon, who served as general director in the ministry of fisheries when Roh was the minister, to run in the elections.

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com