There is an old saying that goes, “Personnel matters are everything.” Taking that maxim to heart, top businesses allocate great resources to finding the right people for the right positions. However, the Blue House seems to think it is an exception, much to its embarrassment and the embarrassment of the country, which must witness yet another personnel appointment fiasco.
Details emerging concerning the sudden resignation of Senior Presidential Secretary for Education and Culture Affairs Song Kwang-yong right before President Park Geun-hye’s departure for Canada on Sept. 20 reveal, at the very least, incredibly amateurish conduct on the part of the Blue House.
Accused of taking credit for papers written by his students, Song’s appointment had been fraught with controversies. The Blue House could have avoided the current fiasco had it heeded the calls against Song’s nomination. Despite the largely adverse sentiment among the public, the Blue House proceeded with the appointment.
Three months later, Song resigned with the terse statement that he wished to return to academia. After three days ― during which time numerous speculations and demands for an explanation regarding Song’s departure were raised ― the Blue House broke its silence.
According to the Blue House statement, it was made aware of a police investigation into Song over a violation of the higher education law on Sept. 19 and Song resigned the next day.
In the Blue House account, Song was questioned by the Seocho Police on June 9 but the questions and answers were not immediately entered into the computer system ― the Blue House claims that the case became available for electronic search only on Sept. 16 ― and thus when the inquiry was made into Song’s criminal and investigation records on June 10, searchs came up with nothing.
The Blue House also said that Song answered “no” when asked whether he had been or is currently under investigation by an investigative body. The question is included in a questionnaire for people being considered for public posts.
The Blue House appears to wish to exculpate itself from the mess, claiming that it did everything according to the book. It was not our fault that the police did not enter the details of the investigation into the computer system immediately and how could we have known about it when Song lied on the questionnaire, seems to be the Blue House sentiment.
Some might say that the Blue House deserves what it got. In retrospect, the fact that he lied in the questionnaire should not have come as a surprise given the previous allegations and questions raised about his character. When the systems that are in place to screen a person fail, and those systems do fail as we have seen in the last few days if the Blue House account is to be believed in its entirety, then we are left having to take that person’s integrity for granted.
The personnel appointment system at the Blue House has once again failed miserably. Kim Ki-chun, the chief of staff who also heads the personnel appointment committee, should apologize and take responsibility.
Close acquaintances with the president should not be the determining factor in making appointments. Already, the appointment of Kim Sung-joo, a successful businesswoman who worked for Park’s presidential campaign, to the top position at the Korean Red Cross is raising eyebrows. The Blue House should cast its net wider when scouting personnel.
