[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'Sabotaging at least 10 years’ worth of progress'

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has announced that he will not consider gender and regional balance in appointments to his transition team. His plan draws a sharp comparison to President Moon Jae-in, who aimed to fill more than 30 percent of the team with women.

Yoon plans to apply the same principle when naming the future prime minister and secretary in April, after the nomination of the chairman and vice-chairman of his transitional team, as well as 24 team members.

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for Yoon, commented in a briefing that “the president-elect aims to make Korea a place where there is fair competition with transparent, objective rules so that those with talent are rewarded accordingly and even those who lose the battle can be comforted and given a second chance.”

#anyone_who’s_suitable
“Anyone who has the ability and talent to work should be hired. There’s no gender in that.”
“To run the country right, the individuals' abilities should be the only thing considered, not their genders. Parachute appointments and nominations by recommendation will corrode the country from the inside. Someone truly talented is bound to be recognized sooner or later, and gender doesn't affect that one bit."
“It’s only fair to appoint someone capable and professional, no matter what their gender is.”

#regression_in_progress
“Someone can be ruled out just because of her gender, even if she’s capable. Does that possibility not cross your mind?”
“They’re sabotaging at least 10 years’ worth of progress.”
“The advanced countries have gender quota systems because they’re not idiots. Think about the reason why it’s there. Sometimes, the solution to discrimination is reverse discrimination. Something that looks fair at first glance could be the most unfair system if studied closely.”

#people_are_watching
“Give it a go. If you meant it when you said that it’s 'for the people', we’ll cheer you on for now.”
“Let’s give him a chance and keep watch to make sure that he runs the country in the name of fairness and common sense.”

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]