Two candidates for "prime minister" were forced to withdraw their candidacy even before confirmation hearings in south Korea. In its wake Jong Hong Won who had left his office earlier was brought back to the post of "prime minister" to become a laughing stock of the world, the editorial said, and went on:

Greater irony is the appointment of ministers as the records of scandals committed by candidates for ministers disclosed at confirmation hearings were stunning.

People remained bewildered when Jong cried out for forming an all-people committee for "reforms" after returning to the prime minister's office though he had been ousted for his responsibility for the ferry Sewol disaster.

What is so shocking is that the regime is thinking of letting the man responsible for the disaster spearhead the "reform" at a time when the truth behind the disaster has not been probed.

By carrying out the Cabinet reshuffle the present regime is ignoring the lesson taught by the April 16 disaster that everything has to be changed. The Cabinet reshuffle is a provocation to the people.