Handonghun's Direct 'Public Official Personnel Verification' Organization Likely to Be Formed on the 31st

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice's 'Personnel Information Management Unit,' which will be responsible for personnel verification functions under the new government, is expected to be established as early as the 31st.

According to related government departments on the 29th, the government will hold a Cabinet meeting on the 31st to submit partial amendments to the 'Regulations on the Collection and Management of Information on Public Office Candidates, etc.' and the 'Organization of the Ministry of Justice and Its Affiliated Agencies.' The amendment includes the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's plan to abolish the Civil Affairs Office and assign the personnel verification function to the Ministry of Justice. The Civil Affairs Office had previously performed personnel verification for public officials but was dissolved with the new administration.

Specifically, the Personnel Information Management Unit will be newly established as an agency directly under the Minister of Justice to systematically collect and manage personnel information of public office candidates. The Minister of Justice will be entrusted with the authority of the Minister of Personnel Innovation.

The unit will be composed of a total of 20 members, including the head. The composition includes one prosecutor or senior public official, three prosecutors, one grade 3 or 4 official, four grade 4 or 5 officials, four grade 5 officials, three grade 7 officials, one grade 8 official, one grade 9 official, and two police inspectors. The government announced this plan for legislative notice and collected opinions from the 24th to 25th but found no notable issues. The Ministry of Government Legislation completed its review on the 26th. The amendment also passed the vice-ministerial meeting on the 27th. It is highly likely that the amendment will pass the Cabinet meeting as is. Once President Yoon promptly promulgates it, it will be implemented immediately.

The head of the unit is expected to be appointed from outside the prosecution. There are also prospects that the head will be selected from individuals who previously worked in the Civil Affairs Office or from the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Considering concerns about the concentration of power in Minister Han, the Ministry of Justice decided that the minister will not receive interim reports from the Personnel Information Management Unit. Additionally, to prevent personnel information from being used for investigative purposes, a 'Chinese Wall' (information exchange restriction between departments) will be established within the ministry, and to maintain the organization's independence, the office will be located in the annex of the Board of Audit and Inspection in Samcheong-dong.