AsiaSouth Korean politicsDangerous watersThe incoming president has already unpopularFor once, the braised shark fin is not the most controversial thing about Yeong Bin Gwan.The grand banquet hall in Seoul, famed for the dubious delicacy, is where Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea’s incoming president, will have his inauguration on May 10th.The opposition Minjoo party complained that the event’s 3.3bn-won ($2.6m) budget makes it the most expensive inauguration ever.Mr Yoon’s people explained that the venue adds only a meagre 500,000 won to the bill.Still, a Minjoo spokesman said it was tantamount to declaring South Korea a country where “the president comes first”.Petty point-scoring is not new to South Korean politics.High office attracts forensic scrutiny.It will soon become routine for Mr Yoon.Shark fin or not, he will have a lot on his plate after inauguration day.He must tackle many problems, including astronomical housing costs and the frustrations of young people who are well-educated but underemployed.Mr Yoon has also promised structural reforms in several areas, including welfare, corporate regulation and criminal justice.
