[Gwanga in] Why the Minister of Environment Took the 'MZ Test'

Environment Minister Kim Wan-seop Holds Meeting with Young Employees
Employees Request "Please Listen to Members' Concerns"

Minister of Environment Kim Wan-seop (right) is holding a communication meeting with the 'Innovation Avengers,' composed of young public officials, at the Government Sejong Complex on the 13th, exchanging opinions to improve organizational culture. Photo by Ministry of Environment

“What does Jungkkokma (an unyielding spirit) mean?”, “Who among the following is NewJeans?”

These were questions from the ‘MZ Test’ that Environment Minister Kim Wan-seop personally solved during a meeting with the Ministry of Environment’s ‘Innovation Avengers’ young employees on the 13th. The Innovation Avengers is an organizational innovation group composed of MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) employees. The test was prepared by Ministry of Environment staff to enhance intergenerational understanding and change organizational culture. Minister Kim stated that he would make efforts to communicate by meeting employees of different generations while solving the questions.

On this day, Minister Kim discussed internal organizational culture and work difficulties with the young employees. The meeting was also attended by the Policy Planning Officer, Youth Advisor, and Innovation Administration Officer. The meeting lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Officials requested Minister Kim to communicate more actively. One employee conveyed the opinion, “Please listen to the concerns of members and the voices of employees.” There was also an idea suggesting that the minister personally meet employees by generation to hear internal voices. Minister Kim reportedly responded positively, saying, “That’s a good idea.”

There was also a suggestion to improve unnecessary and inefficient work methods. Another employee pointed out, “There are still many conventional and formal tasks in the Ministry of Environment.” The implication was that work is overloaded because documents are created simply because they have been done in the past, even though no one looks for them. Minister Kim replied, “It is right not to do those things.”

When asked, “What do you want to achieve as the Minister of Environment?”, Minister Kim reportedly answered, “I hope the Ministry of Environment fulfills its original duties as the main ministry.” Unlike in the past, environmental issues now affect all fields such as economy, industry, and security, so the Ministry of Environment should be able to act as a control tower and raise its voice.

Since his inauguration as Minister of Environment on the 24th of last month, he has expressed the need for a change in organizational culture. At the inauguration ceremony, he took off his jacket on stage and said, “Let’s dress comfortably,” adding, “I hope executive meetings are also held in casual attire.” Regarding protocol for the minister, he also revealed his intention to simplify it, saying, “When I worked at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, I didn’t like (excessive protocol) either.”