[Column] Ministry of Science and ICT Lacking Sense of Urgency

Senior personnel appointments at the Ministry of Science and ICT are being delayed. The situation is further complicated by the organizational restructuring due to the establishment of the Space and Aviation Administration, creating a more chaotic atmosphere. Some voices call for measures to ease tensions within the organization.

Although Lee Chang-yoon, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, along with Kang Do-hyun, the 2nd Vice Minister, and Ryu Kwang-jun, the Head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, were promoted two months ago, the positions they previously held?such as the Director of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council Support Group, Director of the Information and Communications Policy Office, and Coordinator of Science and Technology Innovation?remain vacant. The position of Director of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, a Grade 1 open position, is also currently vacant. With the opening of the Space and Aviation Administration, additional Grade 1 director positions are expected to become available. The vacancies in these key Grade 1 director-level roles, which are crucial for science and ICT policy, place a burden on the vice ministers and acting officials.

Director-level appointments require recommendations from the Minister of Science and ICT and personnel verification by the Presidential Office. Given the turmoil in the Presidential Office following the general election, it is not easy to promptly resolve delays in ministry personnel appointments. As follow-up appointments are not made in a timely manner, there are ongoing concerns that directors at the bureau chief level are engaging in cautious behavior to secure promotions. Organizational management inevitably becomes lax.

The imminent organizational restructuring of the Ministry of Science and ICT due to the launch of the Space and Aviation Administration also affects the organizational atmosphere. Many units under the Director of Large Public Research Policy, who was responsible for space policy within the Ministry of Science and ICT, will move to the Space and Aviation Administration. This will lead to a reorganization of some units.

The Ministry of Science and ICT experienced turmoil after former 1st Vice Minister Cho Sung-kyung, who took office in June last year, led bureau chief-level personnel appointments. The ministry faced criticism that the framework of personnel management was significantly shaken.

A senior official at the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "We considered weekend work for bureau chief-level personnel but could not proceed." This indicates that while there is internal recognition of the need for strong changes, implementation has not been carried out.

The Ministry of Science and ICT received a B grade for the first time in last year’s government performance evaluation. This was the aftermath of R&D budget cuts. However, the more critical issue is the lack of will to reverse the situation. The budget can be increased again. But the fact that many key positions remain vacant may give the impression of being insensitive to the crisis. This is a challenge left to Minister Lee Jong-ho, the ‘benevolent leader.’