South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan informed Cheong Wa Dae of his intention to resign this morning following public criticism over his daughter’s appointment as a “special hire” within the ministry.

Kim Yeong-sun, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, quoted Yu as saying that he is very sorry for stirring up trouble about his daughter’s appointment and that he had voluntarily decided to resign his post.

In a press conference yesterday, Yu issued a public apology and said he would cancel his daughter’s appointment. But mounting public criticism about the matter seems to have forced his decision to resign.

Opposition and civic groups on Friday began calling on Yu to resign for hiring his daughter as a short-term expert on trade, a Level 5 civil servant. President Lee Myung-bak responded by ordering a thorough investigation into the matter.

A key official with Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) said in a telephone interview with the Hankyoreh yesterday that Cheong Wa Dae had decided to fire Yu, adding that his actions would be judged by the standard of a “Fair Society,” the slogan currently being promoted by the Lee administration.

The scandal surrounding Yu has dealt a decisive blow to the slogan. This is because the slogan, which has taken a beating with every incident, including the Aug. 8 cabinet reshuffle in which three appointees withdrew themselves from consideration and the illegal surveillance case, has been greatly weakened by the Yu case. It appears the slogan of “Fair Society” is a frame limiting the government itself.

The slogan also seems to be functioning as a high performance weapon for the opposition to attack the ruling party. Democratic Party floor leader Park Jie-won, referring to news reports that Special Affairs Minister Lee Jae-oh met with lawmakers Chung Doo-un and Jeong Tae-keun to mediate the illegal surveillance case. Park said, “Is this a fair society if they don’t reveal who is at the center of the matter through a prosecutorial investigation, but employ Lee’s ‘Fair Society’ slogan to silence lawmakers?” Since then, Park has repeated this question like a refrain after mentioning other issues, such as the special hire of Yu’s daughter and the appointment of directors to Sangji University.

Other opposition parties are using the slogan as a punching bag. Liberty Forward Party spokeswoman Park Sun-young said on Friday that a “Fair Society” does not come about through words only: it must be preceded by a “Fair Government,” and only if there are “Fair Ministers” can you compose and maintain a “Fair Government.” The Democratic Labor Party, too, said in an editorial that what is making the people despondent is that the Lee administration stresses “Fair Society” with this kind of minister.

Even within the ruling party, there is much concern that the slogan “Fair Society” could fetter national administration. The slogan is a value Lee emphasized during his Liberation Day address as the core keynote of the second half of his administration. Cheong Wa Dae explained that it reflects the philosophy of creating a world where “Dragons come from the Streams” through equal opportunity and consideration for underdogs. It was actively pushed by new Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee, who joined Cheong Wa Dae in July. Originally, the use of the term “Fair State” was considered, but since it strongly connotes state intervention in the private sector, it was changed to “Fair Society.”

There is nothing reproachable about the slogan “Fair Society” itself. The problem is the government's failure to embody the very ideal the slogan represents. The ethical controversies that surrounded former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Tae-ho and Lee’s other cabinet picks immediately after the slogan was announced made Lee himself the first test subject of a “Fair Society.” A Cheong Wa Dae official said that the most vexing thing regarding whether Kim should resign was the criticism that his appointment wasn’t reflective of a “Fair Society.” He said that without the slogan, Kim’s appointment might have turned out differently. This means the “Fair Society” slogan is a big burden on the administration itself.

In fact, within Cheong Wa Dae, it is clear they are worrying that the “Fair Society” slogan has become a fetter to the administration, not its wings. Regarding the case of Yu’s daughter, too, it is being said within Cheong Wa Dae that if someone asks if this is a “Fair Society,” they can say nothing. That President Lee ordered a thorough investigation of the matter while publicly deploring it is seen as a result of the judgment that the scandal runs counter to the concept of a “Fair Society.”

A key Cheong Wa Dae official said that creating a “Fair Society” was a difficult task that, if done well, could become the impetus for Lee's “centrist pragmatism” and “pro-working class” policies, but if done poorly, could trip up the administration. He said the administration needed to support the realization of a “Fair Society” through policies and appointments, and that the government would continue to push the slogan.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]