People Power Party Criticizes President for Dismissal of Trade Chief

The People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae-myung for the dismissal of Yeo Han-goo, the Chief Trade Negotiator at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, calling it an "irrational" operation of the government.
 
In a statement on the 15th, spokesperson Jo Yong-sool questioned, "Is it acceptable to leave a key position responsible for negotiating with foreign countries vacant without even disclosing specific reasons?"
 
Jo pointed out that the Lee administration had promised a $350 billion investment in the U.S. without public consensus last year and is now facing pressure from the U.S. to expedite its implementation. He noted, "Yet, the very person responsible for those negotiations has been dismissed without any explanation."
 
He further stated, "The government remains silent, citing the judgment of the appointing authority without revealing specific reasons for the dismissal. What secret are they trying to hide? The Lee administration must clearly explain to the public why they replaced the trade chief in the midst of U.S. trade negotiations without any alternatives."
 
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reformist New Party, also commented on Facebook, stating, "There are reports of pressure regarding U.S. investments coming from the Trump administration, and in the midst of this, the government has dismissed Chief Yeo. Regardless of the reasons for the dismissal, this action is bound to be misunderstood by the U.S."
 
He urged the government to promptly appoint a successor to the Chief Trade Negotiator to ensure there is no gap in U.S. negotiations, warning that any disruption in U.S. diplomacy could have a more severe impact on the South Korean economy than the recent turmoil in the stock market.
 
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, President Lee dismissed Yeo at midnight on the same day. This unilateral dismissal of a civil servant is an unusual measure in political appointments, but specific reasons for the dismissal have not been disclosed.