[Interview] Kim Byung-jun "Entrenched appointments only offer irrelevant policy advice"

The heads of institutions appointed by the Moon Jae-in government, including the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and KDI, need to consider 'Who are they working for?'
How can those who led 'Income-Led Growth' advise the Yoon Seok-yeol government?

Kim Byung-joon, former chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee's Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 30th of last month. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Kim Byung-joon, former chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee's Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development, raised his voice regarding the situation where personnel appointed by the previous administration are still active in the current government, saying, "We need to think about who we should be working for." As various heads of institutions established by law during the previous government, including the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Korea Development Institute (KDI), remain unmoved, even Kim, who was a strategist during President Yoon Seok-yeol's election campaign, has joined the ranks of critics.

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, former Chairman Kim strongly criticized the so-called 'entrenchment' of Moon Jae-in government personnel, pointing out, "Eventually, policy advice that does not align with the current government will come out, and later, I don't know who will be held responsible for that." He also expressed concern about the current government's difficulties amid global crises.

- Pressure is increasing, but it seems the atmosphere is strong to 'hold on.'

▲ I want to ask what the point of holding on is. Ultimately, we need to think about who we should be working for. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is a position that should serve the complainants, but if the chairman, who is from the opposition party (the Democratic Party), sits there, can they easily get cooperation from other government agencies or institutions they need to collaborate with? The people who suffer there are ultimately the complainants whose rights are supposed to be protected. One might say that the Yoon Seok-ryeol government is so chaotic that they are holding on to protect it, but it's not the time for that yet. Fighting like that is the role of the judiciary, which operates independently, not the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo criticized the KDI president. From the government's perspective, does that mean reports are unreliable?

▲ National policy research institutes have an advisory role in government operations. Someone who led the Moon Jae-in government's 'income-led growth,' which is completely different from the Yoon Seok-ryeol government's stance, cannot do that. I am also a scholar, and from an academic standpoint, I think I couldn't stay there even if my pride was hurt. There are times when you have to bend your philosophy and when it conflicts with your beliefs. Conclusions or policy advice can differ. From the government's perspective, later on, the president will have to be held accountable, but if reports continue to go in the wrong direction, who should be held responsible? Is it the KDI president? Those who do not bear political responsibility should assist and advise those who do. They must consider the position of those who bear political responsibility.

- It has been about two months since the Yoon Seok-ryeol government took office. President Yoon emphasized 'freedom' 35 times in his inaugural speech. Can the government move in that direction?

▲ No. That's why problems arise. The president emphasized freedom strongly, but then the deputy prime minister came out with regulatory remarks like 'restrain wage increases in large corporations.' To the public, it can cause misunderstandings, as they said they would pursue a liberal market economy but then say such things. It needs to be further solidified.

- Is the call to reduce the interest margin difference in the financial sector and ask oil companies to share the pain in the same context?

▲ Those remarks came out because the situation is urgent. They will move in a direction like dieting, but right now, people are hungry and would prefer to accept it as eating. It confuses the public. I do not deny that such aspects exist.

Kim Byung-joon, former chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee's Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 30th of last month. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

- How do you view President Yoon's approval rating?

▲ Honestly, compared to other governments at the initial stage, it cannot be said to be high. It may fall further. The economy is difficult. Saying 'the global economy is tough' doesn't work because some countries can overcome and become stronger even amid a global economic crisis. The stock market has already fallen significantly from its peak, and cryptocurrencies have dropped a lot, causing many people to suffer losses. Such things do not work favorably for the government.

- Wouldn't that weaken the government's momentum?

▲ President Yoon has a peculiar popular appeal. He must overcome this well through that. There is no other way but to strengthen dialogue with the public. If the government accurately conveys the situation we face to the public and clearly explains what kind of world will come after overcoming it, the majority of the people will agree and support it. The same goes for labor reform. It is about explaining what kind of world will come after overcoming this reform task. Even when times are tough, that is the leader's capability.

- There is also much talk about the Moon Jae-in administration's Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development.

▲ It is a committee established by law, so unless the law changes, it cannot be touched. Forced dismissal is also impossible. Issues like balanced development and local decentralization should gain momentum and launch, but they are not. The administration changed, and many things related to balanced development have changed. Under the Moon Jae-in government, the president hardly attended meetings. However, President Yoon has regarded balanced development as the most important task from the transition process and considers it a central task of the new government. When the president changes, it is appropriate to step down.

- One of the tasks presented by the Yoon Seok-ryeol government is revitalizing local universities. There is doubt about its effectiveness as the school-age population declines.

▲ I cannot say exactly what period it is now, but our human resource development system will undergo significant changes overall. Nevertheless, fostering local universities is important. If universities cannot properly train human resources, companies cannot move down because they cannot find people. If intellectual resources are not accumulated in the region, the local community cannot develop.

- When the government says it will nurture local universities, how many talents will believe that and move to the provinces?

▲ That is why we want to create a kind of mechanism to make that happen. One representative school is Handong University. When an electronics company nearby collaborates with the Department of Electronic Engineering to create a curriculum, the electronics company participates from the start. When such cooperation happens, the university can survive. Also, local leadership rather than central leadership is necessary. If the central government leads, it does not know the local demand for human resources well. Governors, mayors, county heads, and district heads work chasing what to attract. A locally led design is established.

- The government said it would nurture semiconductor talent in the provinces, but currently, there are no factories below Cheongju. Even if local universities train talents, won't they all come to Seoul?

▲ If a company is in Seoul, people will go to Seoul; if the company moves to the region, people will go to the region. Currently, these two are intertwined in a vicious cycle. When asked why companies pay expensive land prices and stay in Seoul, they say 'because there are no people.' When asked why there are no people in the region, they answer 'because there are no companies.' The local market, governor, and mayor must design that. Also, activating corporate in-house universities in local universities so that companies can train talents themselves is necessary. General liberal arts can be entrusted to universities for collaboration, and practical work can be designed to earn credits at factories. Although not the ultimate goal, it is one method.

Interview by Choi Il-kwon, Head of Political Department