[Tonguidong 24 Hours] Yoon's 'Straightforward' Style Reflected... Incumbent Transition Team Both Soothes and Scolds

"Add More Data, Explain Again"... Calls for Realistic Measures to Fulfill Pledges
Departments with Formal Reports Also Hold Separate Explanation Sessions

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to the President-elect, is answering reporters' questions on the afternoon of the 27th in front of the transition team's office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the dinner meeting scheduled for the 28th between President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Seok-youl. Photo by Transition Team Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] A certain ministry official who attended the presidential transition committee’s (transition committee) work briefing last week also came to work over the weekend to prepare additional briefing materials. Due to the continuous questions from transition committee members, the work briefing far exceeded the scheduled two hours, and some agenda items were ultimately decided to be submitted separately in the form of ‘document reports.’ Some ministries spent most of the briefing time receiving only criticism. Not only was the response system criticized, but all the public officials involved in policy formulation became targets. However, even after the criticism ended, the reporting was not smooth. Additional reports were requested to make up for the reduced time.

As of the 28th, the transition committee, which marked its tenth day since launch, is said to resemble President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s relentless ‘straightforward’ style. Analysts say this reflects Yoon’s discussion method from the campaign headquarters, where he would address even a single word of concern. The fact that the transition committee placed many experts inside instead of rewarding political debts is also a major factor. Transition committee members are showing deeper knowledge of policies than the ministry officials in charge and are applying pressure accordingly.

Last week’s Ministry of Unification briefing focused practically on explaining President-elect Yoon’s policies. A transition committee official explained, “It was made clear that the new government’s North Korea policy stance is not a hardline policy.” He added, “We kept the door open for dialogue but spent time discussing consistent denuclearization negotiations based on principles, normalization of inter-Korean relations, and ways to achieve joint prosperity.”

Some key agenda items from ministry briefings were reportedly separately reported to the Planning and Coordination Subcommittee, special committees, and President-elect Yoon. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s report on local extinction issues, including region-led balanced development plans and strategies for fostering five major ultra-wide megacities and smart small but strong cities, was discussed at the Regional Balanced Development Special Committee. The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s COVID-19 response report was handled separately by the COVID Emergency Response Special Committee.

Inside and outside the transition committee, it is anticipated that the current transition committee will show differences from previous governments in all respects except for the title of ‘shortest launch period in history.’ A public official who attended the current government’s ministry briefings said, “(The current government) simplified the briefing format partly because there was no transition committee, but the current transition committee has many experts concentrated, so the process of policy readjustment and formulation to be handled will proceed faster than ever.” He added that President-elect Yoon’s tendency to proceed straightforwardly once a decision is made will also be reflected in the selection of national tasks.

Major ministries that completed their briefings have reportedly started the task of selecting priority implementation tasks from the President-elect’s pledges requested by the transition committee since last weekend. Since a major revision of the current government’s policies is inevitable, each ministry is effectively reconsidering all existing policy implementation plans. The final plan filtered by the transition committee is expected to be disclosed in early May, just before President-elect Yoon’s term begins.