[Turning Point Yoon]③ "The Core of Approval Rating Decline is Personnel Failures... Bold Reforms Needed"

Controversies Over Personnel Appointments Persist in Early Term
Yoon: "Must Renew Constantly... Verify Talent Pool"
Experts: "Surround Yourself with Those Who Give Honest Criticism"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is answering questions from the press during the 'National Address and Press Conference' at the briefing room of the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

One of the biggest missteps in the first half of President Yoon Suk-yeol's term is considered to be 'personnel failures.' Over the past two years and six months, President Yoon attempted to secure momentum for state affairs management through expanding the presidential office and cabinet reshuffles, but many analyses suggest that the negative effects outweighed the achievements. Despite advocating 'meritocracy' as his personnel philosophy early in his term, controversies persisted over appointing former prosecutors, far-right figures, the Kim Geon-hee faction, and revolving-door personnel. Experts unanimously stated, "The biggest cause of the decline in approval ratings is the personnel disaster," adding, "Since personnel appointments symbolically represent the president's change, bold personnel reform is necessary."

Decline in Approval Ratings Started with Personnel Disaster

Overall, evaluations of President Yoon's personnel style are harsh. In the past two and a half years, 29 nominees proceeded with appointments despite their confirmation hearing reports not being adopted by the National Assembly. This number is overwhelmingly higher compared to the Moon Jae-in administration (23), Park Geun-hye administration (10), Lee Myung-bak administration (17), and Roh Moo-hyun administration (3). Although the 'minority ruling party' situation influenced this, there are many criticisms that the presidential personnel system was inadequate. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "When President Yoon's approval ratings first began to fall after taking office, the most contentious issue was personnel," adding, "Since the president's governing style and philosophy are all reflected in personnel appointments, all the causes of the current low approval ratings actually started here."

Analyzing President Yoon's personnel style reveals that relationships with the president, ideology, and experience are key factors. During the first cabinet, figures from the Lee Myung-bak (MB) and Park Geun-hye administrations made significant advances. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo served as ambassador to the U.S. during the MB administration, and then-Economic Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho worked as the Blue House's economic and financial secretary. Former Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin (environment secretary) and former Presidential Secretary Kim Dae-gi (Statistics Korea chief) also have ties to MB. From the Park Geun-hye administration, former Unification Minister Kwon Young-se (ambassador to China) and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeong Hwang-geun (agriculture and food secretary) were appointed. The rise of experienced 'old boys' led to a saying circulating in government circles: "Even a fire that has gone out should be checked again." However, criticism arose that the proportion of 'Seoul National University graduates, men in their 50s' was excessively high, resulting in a lack of freshness.

In the second cabinet reshuffle at the end of last year, there was an apparent effort to increase the proportion of women and experts. Among the six new ministers at the time, half were women: Kang Jeong-ae at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Song Mi-ryeong at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Oh Young-joo at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Additionally, Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, born in 1970, was a young talent recruit. However, controversies over insufficient personnel verification left regrets. Minister Kang faced criticism for drunk driving and violence, Minister Oh was accused of patronage appointments, and Minister Song faced allegations of gift tax evasion and plagiarism, drawing concentrated attacks from opposition parties. Particularly, just before the general election, appointing former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, who was under suspicion of interfering with the investigation into the death of Chae Sang-byeong, as ambassador to Australia worsened public opinion. The People Power Party analyzed in its election white paper that controversies surrounding Lee contributed significantly to the defeat.

After the general election, the controversy expanded further as far-right and hardline figures such as Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Ahn Chang-ho, Independence Hall Director Kim Hyung-seok, and Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook were appointed. Despite the convention of appointing moderate figures to positions like the National Human Rights Commission chair or labor minister to maintain balance, the administration appointed hardline right-wingers, provoking opposition party backlash and public discontent. Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, former head of the People Power Party's Vision and Strategy Office, said, "This government seems to be the only one that did not change its personnel style or undertake personnel reform even after such a defeat in the general election," adding, "The lack of personnel changes can be interpreted as a signal that the president has no intention of changing." Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy evaluated, "There were no principles in personnel appointments," and "There was a lack in terms of broad reconciliation and talent recruitment."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is bowing his head in a public apology during the 'National Address and Press Conference' held at the briefing room of the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

Expanded Presidential Office... Criticism of 'Yongwadae'

The presidential office has significantly expanded over the past two years and six months. Initially, the presidential office launched with a structure of two chiefs (Secretariat and National Security Office) and five senior secretaries (political affairs, public relations, economy, society, and civil society). The intention was to slim down the organization and move away from the 'imperial presidency.' However, just three months after the government took office, the Policy Planning Secretary (State Affairs Planning Secretary) was established, followed by the creation of the Policy Office Director, Science and Technology Secretary, Civil Affairs Secretary, and Low Birthrate Secretary, expanding the structure to three chiefs and eight senior secretaries. This is the same size as the Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House, which President Yoon criticized as 'overly large.' The Second Secretariat, assisting First Lady Kim Geon-hee, will soon be launched. Since the Yongsan Government Complex is not large, office space has been divided to accommodate this.

The Policy Office, Science and Technology Secretary's Office, and Low Birthrate Secretary's Office are widely regarded as necessary for state affairs management. However, as the organization grew, criticism of 'Yongwadae' (Yongsan + Blue House) poured in from inside and outside government circles. Although the administration differentiated itself by removing the 'Blue House' name and moving to Yongsan, the original intent was undermined. The presidential office has overseen the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy through various task forces (TFs), and directly announced favorable matters such as estimated oil reserves off the coast of Yeongil Bay in Pohang instead of the responsible ministries, leading to voices criticizing this as 'over-centralization.' A government official working in Sejong said, "It is true that in the process of implementing policies, we inevitably have to be mindful of Yongsan."

There has also been a noticeable increase in presidential secretaries being promoted to vice minister positions. Just this summer, nine officials, including spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung (Vice Minister of Unification), Secretary for State Affairs Kim Jong-moon (First Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination), and Economic and Financial Secretary Kim Beom-seok (First Deputy Minister of Strategy and Finance), were promoted to vice ministerial level. This naturally sparked controversy over 'powerful vice ministers' from the presidential office. The intention was to strengthen control over state affairs through powerful vice ministers instead of ministers who require confirmation hearings, but analyses suggest the results were limited. The four major reforms (pension, labor, healthcare, education), key tasks of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, remain stalled due to obstruction by the ruling party, and approval ratings have plummeted from 52% at the start of the term to 19% recently (according to Gallup Korea). The promise made during the campaign to decentralize authority from the Blue House to ministries by introducing a 'responsible minister system' has lost its significance.

Ruling Party Infighting... Internal Personnel Discord at Yongsan

President Yoon appointed five-term veteran Jeong Jin-seok as Chief of Staff and two-term lawmaker Hong Cheol-ho as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs (in April) in May to accelerate reforms through enhanced communication with the National Assembly. However, instead of improving relations with opposition parties like the Democratic Party of Korea, internal conflicts with People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon intensified. At the time, President Yoon explained that unlike his predecessors who were bureaucrats (Kim Dae-gi, Lee Gwan-seop), Chief of Staff Jeong, a politician, would "communicate smoothly with the cabinet, ruling party, and opposition parties and perform his duties well." A ruling party official said, "President Yoon chose Chief Jeong, who has a moderate temperament, with the intention of getting along well with Leader Han," adding, "Now, the presidential office and Leader Han are practically divided, and it is difficult to expect a reconciliation."

Internal personnel discord within the presidential office also negatively affected President Yoon's image. The issue of First Lady Kim Geon-hee's faction within the presidential office, publicly pointed out by Leader Han, is a representative example. A senior presidential office official dismissed this, saying, "There is only the president's faction in the presidential office," but controversies flared up as allegations of interference in candidate nominations involving Kim and Myung Tae-gyun surfaced. The fact that senior administrative officer Kang Ki-hoon, associated with Kim's faction, continued to come to work for a month after being caught drunk driving before being disciplined belatedly, and that former Policy and Public Relations Secretary Kang Hoon, also from Kim's faction, was appointed president of the Korea Tourism Organization despite lacking expertise, added fuel to the controversy.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a walk with Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader, other People Power Party leadership, and presidential office aides after a dinner hosted by the People Power Party leadership on September 24 in front of the fountain garden at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Yoon: "Verifying Talent Pool"... Experts: "Need People Who Can Speak Frankly"

As governance has become difficult due to declining approval ratings and opposition attacks, President Yoon is expected to undertake a cabinet reshuffle. At a press conference on the 6th, he said, "At the turning point of my term, I have already begun scouting and verifying a talent pool to show a face of reform through appropriate personnel appointments." However, regarding timing, he said, "It is fundamentally difficult to do it quickly because we have to discover, scout, and verify talents, and even if there are no problems in the verification process, we have to consider how the public will receive such personnel proposals."

President Yoon did not specify the direction of personnel reform but hinted at changes by saying, "I believe that the way of working and communication with the public must always change and be renewed day by day." Long-serving ministers and agency heads such as Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun are mentioned as candidates for replacement. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has already expressed his intention to resign but remains in office due to the lack of a suitable successor, may be replaced this time. Voices calling for changes in the presidential office, including the Chief of Staff and political affairs line, are also emerging.

Regarding the so-called 'Hannam-dong faction' personnel reform demanded by Leader Han, it seems unlikely to happen immediately. President Yoon dismissed allegations about Kim's faction the day before, saying, "It sounds very negative." Senior administrative officer Kang Ki-hoon, who was disciplined for two months due to drunk driving, reportedly returned to work on the 6th. President Yoon's stance is that unless specific misconduct is confirmed, personnel cannot be replaced solely because they belong to Kim's faction or are close aides. However, if this stance continues, it is expected that the level of personnel reform desired by Leader Han and the opposition will be difficult to achieve.

Analyses suggest that bold personnel reform is necessary to properly manage state affairs for the remainder of the term. Professor Lee Jun-han said, "It is necessary to replace the prime minister and ministers by receiving recommendations from the opposition," emphasizing, "The administration should show a willingness to widely accept recommendations to select the best people possible." Commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "Basically, the president's faction, including Kim's faction and former prosecutors close to the president, should be dealt with first," adding, "Then, for a change of atmosphere, a full cabinet reshuffle or even a national unity cabinet should be considered." Professor Kim Geun-sik also argued, "The president should surround himself with people who can speak frankly to him so that it feels like the president has changed," and "In addition to replacing the prime minister, options such as selecting moderate figures through consultation with the opposition should be considered."