68 Out of 115 Department Head Positions Replaced... 10% Are Women
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The Ministry of Economy and Finance, which recently conducted a large-scale personnel reshuffle, has attracted attention for breaking with traditional practices. In particular, the placement of general managers overseeing the 1st and 2nd Vice Ministers without matching their seniority levels is considered unprecedented in the Ministry, which traditionally values hierarchy and seniority.
According to the Ministry on the 20th, more than half of the 115 general manager positions were replaced on the 18th, totaling 68 changes. The key feature of this reshuffle is the disruption of the seniority culture, with a focus on performance and ability. Notably, the seniority gap between the general managers overseeing the 1st and 2nd Vice Ministers was allowed to extend up to two seniority levels, which is unusual.
Looking at the general manager appointments, on the 1st Vice Minister side, Hong Minseok, General Manager of Comprehensive Policy (43rd Administrative Examination), Cheon Jaeho, General Manager of Policy Coordination (42nd), Lee Byungwon, General Manager of Economic Structural Reform (42nd), Kim Youngno, General Manager of Tax Policy (42nd), and Lee Daejung, General Manager of Development Finance (40th) were selected. On the 2nd Vice Minister side, Park Junho, General Manager of Budget (41st), Nam Kyungcheol, General Manager of Fiscal Management (41st), and Lee Jehun, General Manager of Fiscal Strategy (42nd) were appointed.
Typically, general managers’ seniority levels are matched closely, but this time, the 40th to 43rd Administrative Examination cohorts were mixed.
A Ministry official explained, "Until now, personnel appointments were generally managed smoothly without dissatisfaction, which was a kind of traditional culture within the Ministry. The seniority of general managers was matched as much as possible to maintain organizational balance."
Also, while officials returning from secondment to the Blue House are usually assigned to Comprehensive Policy or Coordination General Manager positions, this time was different. For example, a general manager who was seconded to the Blue House Economic and Financial Secretariat for over a year was assigned to the Structural Reform General Manager position, which is considered the third most important.
Another notable point in this reshuffle is that, for the first time, 10% of the general manager positions were filled by women. A representative example is the appointment of a female general manager, Jang Yoonjung, to the Employment Environment Budget Division. This division has emerged as a key department since the Moon Jae-in administration emphasized job policies.
A Ministry official said, "Although the Employment Environment Budget Division is not a government office, it is a very important department within the deliberation office. There has never been a precedent of a woman overseeing general management, policy, or land affairs in the Budget Office."
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