Ministry of Unification to Implement Large-Scale Organizational Restructuring on the 11th
Minister Replacement Rumors Amid 'General Election Candidacy' Stir Internal Unrest
Sequential Personnel Moves... "Initial Settlement Likely to Be Difficult"
The Ministry of Unification, facing a large-scale organizational restructuring, is experiencing a restless atmosphere amid rumors of a ministerial replacement.
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 5th, the ministry will carry out an organizational restructuring to strengthen the North Korean human rights sector and reduce the exchange and cooperation functions. The legislative notice for the "Partial Amendment Ordinance of the Ministry of Unification and Its Affiliated Agencies' Organization Act," focusing on the restructuring at the bureau and division levels, was completed at the end of last month, and the legislative notice for the enforcement rules containing changes to the department-level units was completed on the 3rd. It is expected to be promulgated and enforced on the 11th after the State Council meeting soon.
Chain Personnel Movements Expected... Ministry of Unification Including Minister to Leave
Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se during his time as the head of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to government officials, the Presidential Office plans to intensify personnel reshuffling starting with the replacement of the National Security Office chief. With President Yoon Seok-yeol's state visit to the United States scheduled for the end of this month and the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May, the government aims to complete the reshuffling of aides by May, marking the first anniversary of the administration, and possibly finish a "general election-tailored" cabinet reshuffle by July.
Minister Kwon Young-se, a four-term senior lawmaker representing Yongsan District, is expected to step down from his ministerial position as early as May or June to prepare for the general election and focus on solidifying his shaken constituency due to the Itaewon tragedy.
Minister Kwon is considered a close aide to President Yoon, and is credited with revitalizing the position of the organization, which was even considered for abolition before the government was launched. Especially, right after the Korea-Japan summit, Minister Kwon's visit to Japan resulted in the establishment of a "regular communication channel" on the issue of abductees. With working-level consultations expected within the first half of this year, concerns have been raised that a ministerial change could disrupt continuity of work.
An insider from the Ministry of Unification said, "It is widely believed that Minister Kwon has so far shielded lawmakers from criticism in the National Assembly," adding, "If personnel appointments are made, it will take at least four to five months just to understand the work, so if both the staff and the minister are replaced, it is questionable whether they can settle in on time."
Another official said, "They are empowering the North Korean human rights-related organization, which had been sidelined for five years, but if a minister who does not share this awareness comes, the momentum for work will be lost," adding, "Especially in the civil service society, personnel changes are closely linked to promotions, so there is great interest in the scale of personnel changes."
Changes Down to Bureaus and Departments... Ministry of Unification's Large-Scale Organizational Restructuring
A chain of personnel movements is expected due to the large-scale restructuring that will determine the existence of bureaus and divisions. This organizational restructuring, aligned with the current government's North Korea policy, is considered one of the largest since the establishment of the Ministry of Unification. First, the India Cooperation Bureau will be expanded into the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Office, creating new director-level positions such as Human Rights Policy Officer and Settlement and Safety Policy Officer. Additionally, a new North Korean Human Rights Promotion Division will be established to strengthen domestic and international cooperation and support in the North Korean human rights sector. The structure will expand from "1 bureau, 4 divisions, 2 teams" to "1 office, 2 directorates, 6 divisions, 1 team."
The policy and analysis functions will also be strengthened. The Future Unification Strategy Planning Group, directly under the minister, will be incorporated into the Unification Policy Office, and organizations such as the Unification Strategy Planning Officer and the Future Unification Promotion Team will be established under the Policy Office. Furthermore, under the Director of the Situation Analysis Bureau, the North Korea Information Disclosure Center and the Information Disclosure Service Division will be newly established, and the Economic and Social Analysis Division will be split into the Economic Analysis Division and the Socio-Cultural Analysis Team to enhance functions.
Conversely, the exchange and cooperation functions will be reduced. The Secretariat of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, which has effectively lost its function, will be abolished, and the liaison function will be transferred to the newly established Inter-Korean Liaison Division under the Inter-Korean Talks Headquarters. Reflecting the prolonged suspension of dialogue between the two Koreas, the Exchange and Cooperation Office will be downsized to the Exchange and Cooperation Bureau, resulting in the abolition of departments such as the Exchange Support Division and the Inter-Korean Border Cooperation Division.
Meanwhile, Minister Kwon Young-se urged at the 54th anniversary ceremony of the Ministry of Unification on the 2nd of last month, "Many of you will be taking on new tasks through personnel changes, so I hope you will stay focused and calmly carry out your duties."
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