"Won't Shake Much"... New Government Organization Likely to Stay Within Current 18 Ministries System

Outline of This Week's Reform Plan... Government Organization Reform TF Begins Activities
Confirmed: Abolition of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
Simultaneous Ministry Restructuring and Minister Appointment

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is leaving the transition office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, for lunch on the 25th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The next government organization is expected to take shape as early as this week. The Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) has begun drafting a government reorganization plan in line with the completion of ministry work reports, with a strong likelihood that the current administration’s ‘18-ministry system’ will not be exceeded.

A senior official from the Transition Committee said on the 28th, "Since a smaller government was pledged, the number of ministries will not increase from the current number," adding, "With the government organization task force (TF) now operational, the government organization plan will be concretized within this week."

The government ministries, which were downsized during the Lee Myung-bak administration, expanded in size through the Park Geun-hye administration (17 ministries) and the Moon Jae-in administration (18 ministries). President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol aims for a smaller government, so a reduction in ministries is anticipated. Some expect a significant reduction similar to the Lee Myung-bak administration, which cut the previous 18 ministries down to 15, but considering the current opposition-majority National Assembly, it is widely believed that even if functions are separated or merged, a drastic reduction will be difficult. A Transition Committee official conveyed, "The government organization will not be shaken up that much."

What has been confirmed so far is the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there are discussions about transferring the functions of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and separating the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Welfare, which have become more important in the COVID-19 era, but a Transition Committee official stated, "The plan to split the Ministry of Health and Welfare is not being considered at this time." The Ministry of Education, which is expected to take over the functions of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, is also mentioned as a target for reorganization. There is a plan to integrate the Ministry of Education centered around the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Additionally, the possibility of establishing a new ministry to integrate digital and media content-related policy functions, which are currently scattered across the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is also being discussed. The issue of transferring trade functions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is under consideration, but unless the trade organization is made independent, it will have little impact on the number of ministries.

The new government organization plan to be included in the amendment to the Government Organization Act is expected to take shape this week and the draft will be released in conjunction with the selection of the first national agenda on the 4th of next month. Transition Committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said to reporters the day before, "We plan to create the first draft in early April and continue discussions." The government reorganization TF within the Transition Committee, responsible for drafting the amendment to the Government Organization Act, also began full-scale operations this week. Member of the National Assembly and Planning and Coordination Subcommittee Secretary Chu Kyung-ho of the People Power Party will lead the drafting work as team leader.

The appointment of the first ministers of the next government is also proceeding alongside the ministry reorganization work. For Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Member of the National Assembly Chu Kyung-ho of the People Power Party and President-elect’s economic special advisor Kang Seok-hoon are being considered, while Lee Chang-yang, secretary of the Transition Committee’s Economic 2 Subcommittee, is among the candidates for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. For Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member of the National Assembly Park Jin and Kim Seong-han, secretary of the Transition Committee’s Foreign Affairs and Security Subcommittee, are mentioned, and for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Professor Kim Kyung-hwan of Sogang University and Member of the National Assembly Song Seok-joon are being considered. A Transition Committee official said, "We are currently in the process of searching for ministry ministers," adding, "As ministries are finalized, the appointment process will naturally proceed."