Park Neung-hoo (Korean: 박능후; born 24 June 1956) is a South Korean professor of social welfare at Kyonggi University previously served as President Moon Jae-in's first Minister of Health and Welfare from 2017 to 2020. Park was a leading figure combating the spread of coronavirus in South Korea.
Park Neung-hoo | |
|---|---|
박능후 | |
 | |
| Minister of Health and Welfare | |
| In office 22 July 2017 – 24 December 2020 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Chung Chin-youb |
| Succeeded by | Kwon Deok-cheol |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1956 Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Seoul National University University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Professor |
| Park Neung-hoo | |
| Hangul | 박능후 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 朴淩厚 |
| Revised Romanization | Bak Neunghu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pak Nŭnghu |
Park studied the issue of poverty and social welfare for over three decades in academia.[1] With his appointment, President Moon completed formation of his first cabinet in 2017. As of 2020, he is leading one of three ministries in which the head has not changed since Moon's presidency began, along with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.[2]
Education
editPark graduated from Seoul National University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Arts in political science.[3] In 1998, he earned a PhD in social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley.[4]
In 2020 he received The Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award.[5]
Controversy
editOn December 2, 2019, Health Minister Park made controversial remarks on a child-on-child sexual abuse case in which a five-year-old girl was sexually abused by another five-year-old boy. Park said that it was "natural behavior over the stages of development", appearing to side with the perpetrator, causing a public outcry.[6] The Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare apologized to the victim, her family and others hurt by Park's remarks, on behalf of the minister.[7][8][9][10]
On February 26, 2020, Park Neung-hoo's remarks caused controversy when he blamed South Korean nationals for the spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus, saying that "the biggest cause is us Koreans who entered from China".[11][12] Park also claimed that the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases had not suggested an entry ban on infected countries, which was incorrect.[13][14] Opposition lawmakers suggested that President Moon Jae-in fire Park as a result.[15]
References
edit- ^ "박능후 후보자, 누구냐" 의료계 온종일 '들썩'. 메디칼업저버 (in Korean). 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ 강경화 박상기 박능후 '원년멤버' 3명만 남아. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
- ^ "Minister's Profile: Park Neunghoo". Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ "Alumni in Action: Park Neunghoo (PhD '98) | Berkeley Social Welfare". socialwelfare.berkeley.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ "Park Neung-hoo (PhD '98) honored with Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award | Berkeley Social Welfare". socialwelfare.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- ^ Kim, Arin (3 December 2019). "[Newsmaker] Welfare minister apologizes for controversial comment on child-on-child sexual abuse". The Korea Herald. The Korea Herald.
- ^ @mohwpr (2 December 2019). 사과드립니다.오늘 국회에서 박능후 보건복지부 장관의 발언으로 마음의 상처를 받은 피해 아동과 부모님, 그리고 안타까운 마음으로 지켜보고 계시는 국민 여러분께 진심으로 사과드립니다 (Tweet). Retrieved March 13, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Public outraged over health minister's response to sexual violence among children". The Korea Times. 3 December 2019.
- ^ 박능후, 이번엔 "성남 어린이집 사건, 성폭력 아닌 성적 일탈". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 5 December 2019.
- ^ 박능후, 성남시 어린이집 성폭력에 "발달과정 행동" 발언 파장. The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Ruling party, government fuel public's mistrust". The Korea Times. 27 February 2020.
- ^ Cho, Kyungji; Lee, Yoojung; Lee, Heesu; Park, Kyunghee. "As Virus Spreads, Koreans Blame Refusal to Stop Chinese Visitors". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ 감염학회 中입국금지 제안 안했다? 박능후 거짓말 논란. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 26 February 2020.
- ^ "감염학회, 중국 입국금지 추천 안했다"는 박능후 증언은 거짓. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 26 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ 심재철 "코로나 책임 국민에게 돌린 박능후 장관 사퇴해야". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). 27 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
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