Published : Aug. 31, 2016 - 18:06
Cho Yoon-sun, nominee for minister of culture, sports and tourism, said during the parliamentary confirmation hearing on Wednesday that she is personally against the removal of a statue representing the victims of Japan’s World War II sex slavery.
She also admitted her lack of experience in the cultural sector but underlined her expertise in intellectual property, pledging to achieve the nation’s cultural prosperity and thus to contribute to economic growth.
Culture Minister nominee Cho Yoon-sun attends her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)
”I am well aware that my culture-related experience is limited to dealing with intellectual property as lawyer,“ Cho said at her hearing held by the parliamentary committee for education, culture, sports and tourism.
The former lawyer and lawmaker, known for her close ties with President Park Geun-hye, was named on Aug. 16 as chief of the culture department.
In response to the doubts over her qualification as culture minister, Cho cited a tourism promotion bill which she had motioned back in the 18th National Assembly when she was member of the culture committee. She also mentioned her leading role in a key state-led project to restore cultural assets, including the legation building of the former Korean Empire in the United States.
”Culture should be combined with other industries such as tourism, medical care, education, manufacturing and information technology to create jobs and to steer economic growth,“ Cho said.
”It was for such reason that the government suggested cultural prosperity as a keynote.“
Creative economy, a broader concept encompassing cultural prosperity, is the essential state administration slogan put forward by the Park government.
As for the disputed removal of the ”girl statue,” the nominee remained passive.
”I understand it is not for the (South Korean) government to decide (whether or not to remove the statue),“ she said, in answer to a question by Rep. An Min-suk of The Minjoo Party of Korea.
When the main opposition lawmaker repeatedly urged for her stance, she said that she ”personally doesn‘t agree.“
Cho’s hearing kicked off in the late afternoon after hours of delay and a heated verbal battle between rival parties, which had led to an abrupt adjournment of the session earlier on the day.
The trigger of the dispute came from the ruling Saenuri Party members of the committee, who claimed that chairman Yoo Sung-yop was unqualified to lead the hearing, citing his alleged lopsidedness over the government‘s extra budget bill. Rep. Yoo is affiliated with the runner-up opposition People’s Party.
The committee, in the absence of the objecting ruling party members, had voted in favor of a budget bill clause to draw up 600 billion won ($538 million) to cover for regional education debts Monday.
Yoo attempted to push ahead with the hearing, urging lawmakers to focus on assessing the minister nominee, but had to adjourn the session due to the aggravating verbal exchange. The 10 a.m. meeting, which was delayed by 55 minutes, only lasted 40 minutes.
The session reopened in the afternoon but only opposition lawmakers were present, with Saenuri members boycotting it.
(tellme@heraldcorp.com)