Kijae2 Kim Yunsang·Gukto1 Jin Hyunhwan·Yeo-ga Shin Youngsook
Haesu Song Myungdal·Procurement Agency Chief Im Gi-geun·Prime Minister's Secretary Son Youngtaek
Clearing Up Turbulent Atmosphere Ahead of General Election in About 100 Days
Yoon Accelerates Policy Implementation and Budget Execution from New Year
Also Aims to Maintain Government Momentum
President Yoon Suk-yeol made new appointments for deputy minister-level positions in six ministries on the 27th. Following the cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, the replacement of deputy ministers aims to finalize key personnel changes in ministries before the official start of the general election race. President Yoon intends not to be swayed by the political atmosphere, as he has announced a swift policy implementation from the new year.
The Presidential Office announced appointments for six deputy minister-level positions in the afternoon, including the 2nd Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Administrator of the Public Procurement Service, and the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Office.
Announcing deputy minister appointments immediately after ministerial appointments is a strategy to quickly dispel the unsettled atmosphere caused by cabinet members running for the general election and to secure stability in the practical administration of state affairs. Previously, from the 4th to the 19th, President Yoon replaced eight ministers out of 18 ministries with experts such as public officials and professors.
In particular, President Yoon plans to tighten the reins on major reforms in labor, education, and pensions, as well as healthcare reform, resolving low birth rates, and economic revitalization from the new year. Given the plan for rapid budget execution, appointing new deputy ministers before the new year is intended to ensure the continuity of government affairs.
At the last Cabinet meeting of the year held at the Government Complex Sejong the day before, President Yoon approved the '2024 Budget Allocation Plan,' which allocates 75% of next year's budget to be executed in the first half of the year. Of the 550 trillion won budget for next year (general and special accounts excluding funds), 412.5 trillion won corresponds to the first half budget.
Therefore, President Yoon focused appointments on ministries where current deputy ministers are either running for the general election or the positions are vacant. First, Kim Wan-seop, 2nd Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Park Seong-hoon, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; and Kim Oh-jin, 1st Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, are all expected to run in the general election. All three were appointed during the deputy minister reshuffle at the end of June but are considering running in Gangwon Wonju, Busan Haeundae-gap, and Daegu Dalseo-gap constituencies, respectively.
New appointments within the ministries include Kim Yoon-sang, Administrator of the Public Procurement Service, as the new 2nd Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Jin Hyun-hwan, Director of the Housing and Land Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as the 1st Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; and Song Myung-dal, Director of the Marine Policy Office at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. With Kim Yoon-sang’s appointment, the vacant position of Administrator of the Public Procurement Service was filled by Im Gi-geun, Director of Fiscal Management at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Son Young-taek, Chief of the Civil Affairs Office at the Prime Minister's Secretariat, was appointed Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Office, continuing the same trend. Shin Young-sook, former President of the National Human Resources Development Institute, was appointed Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Since Deputy Minister Shin is an expert in civil servant talent development and organizational restructuring, this appointment is interpreted as President Yoon’s intention to actively initiate organizational restructuring aimed at dismantling or downsizing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Meanwhile, the position left vacant by the nomination of former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oh Young-joo as Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has not yet been filled. Candidates for the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs include female officials such as Kang In-seon, Overseas Public Relations Secretary at the Presidential Office; Kim Hyo-eun, Climate Change Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Son Ji-ae, Visiting Professor at Ewha Womans University Graduate School of International Studies. It is also reported that Yoon Kang-hyun, Ambassador to Iran, a male official, may be selected.
Within the ruling party, Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was rumored to be drafted for the general election, is currently expected to retain her position. Deputy Minister Jang is known to have a strong intention to continue her duties.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
