Yoon Extends Hand to Democratic Party, Considering Fixed-Term Political Appointment Tenure Guarantee

Considering the Need for Democratic Party Cooperation on Confirmation Hearings and Government Organization Act
Personnel Appointments for 10 Ministries as Early as the 13th

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is announcing the inaugural cabinet list on the afternoon of the 10th at the 20th Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. On this day, President-elect Yoon announced the appointments for the Minister of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Moon Jewon] The Yoon Suk-yeol administration is considering guaranteeing the terms of office for some ‘fixed-term political appointees’ due to the National Assembly’s minority government situation and significant concerns about the independence of committees.

‘Fixed-term political appointees’ are generally guaranteed their terms to protect the independence of each institution unless there are special reasons. However, during regime changes, it has become customary for them to resign voluntarily and be replaced.

During the Lee Myung-bak administration, despite having 2 to 3 years left in their terms, most officials such as Jeon Yoon-cheol, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Im Chae-jin, Prosecutor General, and Kwon Oh-seung, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, were replaced shortly after taking office. Similarly, before the Park Geun-hye administration took office, Kim Seok-dong, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, Kim Dong-soo, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, and Lee Gye-cheol, Commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission, who were appointed by the previous government, resigned voluntarily. After the Moon Jae-in administration began, Lim Jong-ryong, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, and Jin Woong-seop, Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, also resigned. Notably, since the introduction of fixed terms for the Prosecutor General, only 8 out of 22 appointees have completed their full terms.

The transition committee’s policy of avoiding work gaps also appears to have influenced this. The parliamentary landscape, where the cooperation of the Democratic Party is essential for the confirmation hearings of cabinet members and the passage of the Government Organization Act, was also taken into account. A transition committee official said, "There are areas where we need to cooperate with the Democratic Party, and the issue of term guarantees could be negotiated during that process."

Another reason cited for guaranteeing terms is that the Chairmen of the Financial Services Commission and the Fair Trade Commission do not have voting rights in the Cabinet meeting. These minister-level officials are not formal cabinet members and only attend meetings without voting rights. This means their influence on policy decisions in the next government is limited. Opinions have also been raised that there is little need to replace financial authorities such as Financial Services Commission Chairman Ko Seung-beom and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Jung Eun-bo, as they are not strongly politically aligned. Considering the recent macroeconomic instability due to rising inflation, replacing the heads of financial authorities immediately after the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy could hinder swift and efficient policy implementation, reflecting a practical concern.

However, some voices argue that "new wine should be put in new bottles," suggesting the possibility of a ‘targeted replacement.’ For example, former Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is mentioned as a candidate for Financial Services Commission Chairman, while Kang Seok-hoon, a policy special advisor to the transition committee, and Kwon Nam-hoon, a professor at Konkuk University, are mentioned for the Fair Trade Commission Chairmanship. It is expected that Chairman Cho Sung-wook of the Fair Trade Commission and Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency will be replaced after their terms end in September and July, respectively.

The candidates for the remaining 10 ministries, including the Minister of Education, are expected to be announced as early as the 13th. The incoming administration plans to expedite appointments considering the National Assembly’s hearing schedule, and some candidates who have already undergone verification have been confirmed.

An official from the transition committee explained that appointments for the presidential office staff will take more time. After completing all ministerial appointments, practical discussions will begin. Kim Han-gil, Chair of the National Integration Committee of the transition team, and Kang Seok-hoon, former Blue House Chief Economic Secretary, are rumored candidates for Chief of Staff to the President. Considering that President-elect Yoon is looking for a Chief of Staff with political acumen who can cooperate with the economic line, former Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Joong-kyung and former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Dae-gi are also considered candidates.

Deputy minister-level appointments will actively reflect the preferences of the ministerial candidates. Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo said on the morning of the 11th, "Deputy ministers will be recommended by the ministers announced yesterday, and an independent verification body will assist. The nominated candidates will have the authority to choose whom they will work with."