Employment Minister Lee Jeong-sik Calls Heads of Public Institutions Under Ministry, Saying "Let's Reduce Waste"

Continued Criticism of Inefficient Management in Public Institutions
Minister Lee Jeong-sik: "Innovation Can No Longer Be Delayed"

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik is briefing on the direction of labor market reform promotion at the Government Complex Sejong on the morning of the 23rd of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, called in the heads of 12 affiliated public institutions, including the President of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, on the 6th, stating, "There have been ongoing concerns about the oversized scale, low productivity, and lax management of public institutions," and urged, "Please personally check if there are any wasteful factors."

Minister Lee presided over his first 'Meeting of Heads of Affiliated Public Institutions' since taking office at 3 p.m. that day at the Government Sejong Complex and made these remarks.

In his opening remarks, Minister Lee emphasized, "The government plans to push forward with intensive innovation of public institutions in a direction that enhances the productivity and financial soundness of public institutions," adding, "We can no longer delay structural reform and innovation to restore the original role of public institutions that earn the trust of the people through high-quality public services."

He continued, "I ask each head of institution to focus on increasing productivity and efficiency by operating functions and personnel centered on the people and the field, and to personally check if there are any wasteful factors."

Given President Yoon Seok-yeol's push for high-intensity innovation of public institutions, it is interpreted that the Ministry of Employment and Labor also emphasized tightening the belts of its affiliated agencies.

Minister Lee also requested active cooperation regarding the labor market reforms the government is promoting. The Ministry of Employment and Labor held the first meeting of the 'Special Task Force for Employment and Labor Regulatory Innovation' on the 9th and discussed plans for regulatory reform.

He stated, "Since dedicated personnel have been appointed for public institutions and local employment and labor offices, we plan to promptly implement regulatory innovation tasks discovered through the monthly special task force meetings," adding, "Only when bold task discovery and speedy institutional improvements through a change in mindset are supported can effective regulatory innovation be achieved."

Additionally, Minister Lee announced that the ministry will actively support the creation of quality jobs through fostering new industries. He said, "It is necessary to advance manpower supply and demand forecasts by sector and level in new technology fields and to cultivate essential talents for new industry growth, such as digital talents," and added, "Regulatory innovation in vocational training must also be pursued quickly and boldly to supply the workforce needed on-site in a timely manner."

The meeting was attended by the heads of institutions including the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Human Resources Development Service of Korea, Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, Korea Employment Information Service, Korea Polytechnic Foundation, Korea University of Technology and Education, Labor-Management Development Foundation, Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association, Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, Korea Job World, and Korea Employment and Labor Education Institute.