April 21, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Rising from second-in-command to acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has taken a dramatic political upturn this year. This is in stark contrast to suspended President Park Geun-hye and a number of her key aides who are currently facing investigation over corruption allegations.

The practical state affairs leader is now counted as a plausible presidential hopeful for the ruling Saenuri Party -- a rumor which he has never fully denied.

Hwang on Dec.30 chaired a public and private joint task force to respond to the recently aggravated bird flu virus, as well as a ministerial Cabinet meeting to discuss the nation’s food safety measures.

“We have to expand the one strike-out system on (food) those who forge distribution dates or sell nonconforming products, so as to fundamentally prevent all unqualified sellers from setting foot in the market,” he said at the ministerial meeting, gesturing at taking an active stance on the issue.

His assertive tone over his presidential role was also reflected in his recent talk with reporters, in which he refrained from denying his potential bid in the forthcoming presidential race.

“I have already told you everything,” the prime minister said repeatedly during a luncheon with reporters on Dec.29, when asked in various formats on whether or not he would run in the earlier-than-planned presidential election next year.

Even when faced with a dead-end question, he did not rule out running as a presidential candidate.

“I will do my best in serving my current post, and once it is done, I will then make efforts for the future,” he also said.

Since taking office as prime minister in June last year, Hwang has officially presided as the No. 2 chief official in the Cabinet, standing next in line to President Park Geun-hye.

Despite his position, however, Hwang has mostly been regarded as a mere administrative assistant to the president, partly because of South Korea’s powerful president-centered governance structure and partly because of Hwang’s straight-arrow character.

He even came close to resigning when President Park suddenly tapped former liberal presidential aide Kim Byung-joon as the next prime minister, as part of her effort to pacify the political turbulence following the outbreak of the extensive corruption scandal whirling around her confidante Choi Soon-sil.

Hwang, who was given the replacement notice at the last minute reportedly via text message, immediately offered to resign but soon withdrew his offer as Kim’s appointment was thwarted upon opposition backlash.

It was the president‘s impeachment on Dec. 9 which brought the dwindling prime minister to the center of the stage. Upon the legislature’s passage of the impeachment resolution and the consequent suspension of Park‘s powers, Hwang became the ninth acting president in the nation‘s history, as well as the second one to temporarily replace an impeached state chief.

With a reinforced range of authority, Hwang also rose as a likely presidential choice for the ruling Saenuri Party. The conservative camp currently has few options, due to the mass defection of reformist members and the consequent estrangement of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

By Bae Hyun-jung/The Korea Herald (tellme@heraldcorp.com)