Kim Focused on Fairness

On Monday, as President Kim Dae-jung handed the new police commissioner-general, Yi Pal-ho, his letter of appointment, he asked him to "set an example of fair personnel appointments."

Mr. Kim's administration has long been criticized for relying heavily on personnel from the Jeolla provinces, which is where the president hails from. Most political observers said naming Mr. Yi, a native of South Chungcheong province, to lead the National Police Agency is a sign that the president is addressing that criticism.

"The president believes that the flight of public support for his administration stemmed from its heavy reliance on the talent pool of natives of a certain region. Appointments from now on will correct that," a high-ranking official at the Blue House said on condition of anonymity.

In the coming months the new police commissioner will have to name new heads of 12 regional police agencies and the head of the National Police Agency's intelligence bureau among others. The intelligence bureau and one of the Blue House security teams are currently led by natives of the Jeolla provinces.

In recent military and police appointments Mr. Kim has begun to respond to the criticism over the large number of appointees from the two southwestern provinces. Natives of the region were long locked out of core government positions by presidents who hailed from rival regions.

The appointment of Mr. Yi, who had led the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was a powerful signal as many observers speculated that Lee Dae-gil, head of the National Police Academy and a native of South Jeolla province, would succeed Lee Moo-young as the nation's top cop. He also surprised observers in September by appointing General Kim Pan-kyu, who hails from South Gyeongsang province, the new Army Chief of Staff. General Lee Nam-sin, a native of North Jeolla province, was a reported shoe-in for the post.

The Blue House official added that a "fair regional representation" can also be expected in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, which is expected around the end of the year.

The official said the president's new insistence on fairness will filter down to mid-level positions as well, raising the specter of a kind of "reverse-discrimination" against natives of the Jeolla provinces.

by Kim Jin-kook