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| Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki speaks during a National Assembly House Steering Committee meeting at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, May 17. Joint Press Corps |
By Nam Hyun-woo
The presidential office said Friday that it is not considering privatizing state-run companies such as Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), dismissing controversies that have stemmed from the presidential chief of staff's remark about unloading the IIAC's stake in the airport company on the market.
During a meeting with reporters, an official at the presidential office said the government "has never considered privatizing state-run companies and has no plan to do so."
The remark came amid the rival main parties' conflict over privatizing some state-run companies.
During a National Assembly House Steering Committee meeting on May 17, presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki said, "Incheon International Airport should be managed by the government, but some 30 to 40 percent of (the IIAC's) stake should be unloaded on the market."
Kim was answering a question asking whether he is still supportive of the idea of privatizing state-run companies, referring to Kim's experience of working at the presidential office under former President Lee Myung-bak, who sought the privatization of many public services.
Kim's remarks triggered protests from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
A day after Kim's remarks, the DPK's June 1 elections campaign committee chief, Lee Jae-myung, wrote on Facebook that he opposes any move to privatize electricity, the water supply, airports or railways.
Seoul mayor candidate Song Young-gil also said that the Yoon government's intention to privatize public services, as well as Chief of Staff Kim's remark about selling IIAC's stake in Incheon Airport will "result in hikes in utility charges and suffocate the public livelihood." Song proposed "a public protest" to deter the government's moves.
To counter their criticisms, Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho said on May 19 that the Yoon administration has never considered privatization and has no plan to do so.
As Lee, Song and other DPK members use this rationale for their June 1 local elections and by-elections campaigns, the PPP filed complaints with the prosecution against Lee and Song, saying that they are spreading groundless rumors despite the government's denial.
The presidential office also said that Kim's remarks do not represent the government's stance on privatization.
"What Kim said during the May 17 meeting was just the content of his book written 10 years ago, and it was his personal idea, not the government's policy direction," the official said.
