Can it be a trump card for the breakthrough between Japan and Korea? On the 22nd, Prime Minister Lee In-gyeong will come to Japan to meet the Emperor ’s “Imperial Court,” and will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In the first place, what is the position of the prime minister in South Korea where the president is? What is its political voice? I asked Hideki Okuzo who is familiar with Korean politics and Associate Professor at Shizuoka Prefectural University
-What kind of work is the Korean Prime Minister?
“Prime Minister” is a media term. The official name in Korean is Prime Minister.
-Why is it called Prime Minister?
The Korean Constitution states that the Prime Minister assists the president and takes charge of the president's order with regard to administration, and oversees all administrative departments. Each department corresponds to a Japanese ministry. Since the work that governs each ministry is the prime minister in Japan, it is called that way in the media.
--Because you are in charge of each ministry, can the Korean prime minister be the administration number 2 after the president?
But that's not the case. Constitutionally, the prime minister is certainly number 2, but whether it can be said substantially depends on the administration of time. In Korea, the authority and influence that the President can exercise are diverse in determining important national policies such as diplomacy, security, and economy. Some Prime Ministers were unable to demonstrate their uniqueness under the President and seemed to be just a decoration, while others had the ability to speak to the President and acted as number 2.
--Why does it make sense to set up a prime minister while the president's authority is strong?
Until the democratization in 1987, the Korean government continued to be governed by military presidents. In the current constitution, which was created at the end of that year, the Prime Minister is expected to play a role as an entity that prevents the president from overusing power and checks that power. There is a provision that “the prime minister is appointed by the president with the consent of the Diet,” and the approval of the Diet is required, so the institution is given a strong authority. It is a mechanism that the president cannot choose the prime minister as he likes.
-To what extent does Prime Minister Lee have a voice in the current Munjain administration?
Cheong Wa Dae is the prime minister's residence in Japan in South Korea, but it is called Ao tile stand from the name of the building. It is said that the current civilized government is “led by the blue tiles”, and it cannot be said that Lee's influence is much greater than that of Cheong Wa Dae.
-So what does it mean for Lee to come to Japan?
Lee is a Tokyo correspondent for Korean paper…