"It Feels Like Even Your Soul Is Shaken Out"... The Paradox of Ministerial Promotion Signals [For Public Officials, Capability Assessment Comes First]

Every New Administration Brings Turmoil to Sejong Government Complex
The Most Joyful News Turns Into a Burden
Hearings Focus on Private Lives Over Assessing Capabilities

Editor's NoteUtilizing talent in the right place is directly linked to the success or failure of national governance. The saying "personnel is everything" did not come about without reason. The problem, however, is that even if there is a desire to use talented individuals, it is difficult to do so in reality. Even when talented people are identified and considered for important roles, it is common for them to decline. This is not unrelated to the fact that the system established to vet public officials is now blocking the appointment of talented individuals. It is problematic when the scrutiny of private lives takes precedence over the assessment of capabilities. With the current personnel hearing system, which focuses on finding faults by delving into not only the public official's private life but also that of their spouse and children, it is inevitably difficult to appoint talented individuals. This article examines the recurring problems of the personnel hearing system that arise with each new administration and explores possible improvements.

"From the perspective of those involved, (personnel hearings) are a form of psychological torture."

Government Complex Sejong./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

An official at the director-general level in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy described the current personnel hearing vetting system in these terms. He said, "Even in the first round of vetting for a candidate, everything is scrutinized, from parking violation tickets to relatives' military service, lease contracts, and even past comments on social networking services (SNS)." He explained that after going through this process, "it feels as if even your soul has been thoroughly shaken out." This is a common concern among director-general and bureau-chief level officials across government ministries.

It is a striking situation where what should be the most honorable notification of promotion instead becomes the spark of anxiety. In fact, ahead of the announcement of ministerial-level appointments in the new administration, tension runs high at Government Complex Sejong. The "public recommendation" process for minister and vice-minister candidates to join the first cabinet of the Lee Jaemyung administration closed on the 16th, accelerating the personnel vetting process. The public submitted over 74,000 recommendations for appointments. To be recommended as the right person for a minister or vice-minister position by a member of the public is an honor in itself. After the working-level procedures at the Ministry of Personnel Management, it appears that notifications will be sent to those selected for vetting.

Senior officials at the director-general and bureau-chief level in government ministries have mixed feelings of anticipation and concern regarding contact from the Presidential Office or the Ministry of Personnel Management. While some say, "The days when becoming a minister would change your life are over," for career public officials who have spent their lives working toward that day of honor, it is a different story. Officials in Sejong City endure present hardships while nurturing dreams of promotion.

The problem is that the personnel hearing process is harsher than one might expect. While it may be considered a process to find good talent, from another perspective, it can seem excessive. In reality, everything is subject to scrutiny: not only the qualifications required of a central government minister, but also any ethical flaws, their past conduct, and even public reputation. In the process, not only the candidate but also their family and even relatives' private lives may be examined.

This is why there is a saying that, at the personnel hearing table where dreams of promotion begin, "politicians may lose votes, but someone may lose their life." If you become a candidate for vetting, the joy is only temporary. Even with the candidate's willingness, they may be eliminated during the vetting stage. Some underestimate the process and end up suffering greatly. After such stories spread by word of mouth, it becomes even harder to find suitable candidates.

The process of searching for a candidate when Mr. A, a former professor, became Minister of Industry is a well-known anecdote. An official from the Ministry of Industry said, "There were rumors both inside and outside the civil service that he was ranked around 70th among ministerial candidates," and added, "Although these rumors were exaggerated, it is widely known that dozens of higher-ranked candidates withdrew during the vetting stage." The official continued, "Many people feel psychological pressure, wondering, 'Do I really have to bare everything to this extent?'"

The personnel hearing of Cho Sungwook, former chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission during the Moon Jaein administration, is a case worth revisiting. Cho served as chairperson from September 2019 to September 2022. Although she was recognized as an expert in corporate governance immediately after her nomination, she was unexpectedly embroiled in a controversy over a penthouse purchase during the National Assembly hearing.

A government official recalled, "At the time, the candidate was without a home and had lived for over 20 years in a 20-pyeong apartment in Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, renting or leasing while saving up for her first purchase. She was taken aback when this was pointed out during the hearing preparation." He added, "She never expected the purchase of the apartment to become an issue, and I remember that she felt it was very unfair when the controversy arose."

National Assembly Building, Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

It is said that even a sitting minister's initial excitement after being nominated quickly turned into a sense of guilt toward their children. A government official said, "When the minister first heard about the possibility of being nominated, the main concern was, 'Will I be able to do a good job?' and whether they could lead the (mainly academic) organization well."

However, during the personnel hearing preparation, new concerns emerged. The official explained, "There was anxiety when it was pointed out that giving pocket money to a child could be considered illegal gifting. The minister reportedly felt deep regret, thinking, 'I made my child worry just because I wanted to become a minister.'" The official added, "Digging into personal matters seems more like fault-finding or shaming. While ethical vetting is certainly necessary and important, the attitude of 'if it's not true, never mind' is excessive, even for a National Assembly hearing."

The level and standards of scrutiny at National Assembly personnel hearings have also changed. In the past, controversies were sometimes resolved with an apology during the hearing. Cases of false address registration for children's education are a representative example. In the past, if someone registered a false address due to soaring real estate prices or school district issues, it could be settled with an apology and the understanding that there was no illegal intent.

But now, such actions are regarded as serious personnel flaws. "In the past, false address registration for children's education was almost customary, but nowadays, even if you commute from Seoul, there is a strong atmosphere of avoiding anything that could be held against you," the official said. "Unlike before, the focus of personnel vetting has shifted to intent and circumstances, so even suspicion itself can become a risk."

Even so, compared to appointments in other fields, public officials tend to manage themselves thoroughly from a young age. This is because the nature of their position means they are always under scrutiny and could be subject to both major and minor vetting at any time. However, the personnel hearing process is still a burden for them as well. Even getting understanding from family members is a challenge.

While public officials may wish to use their lifelong experience in service of the country, there is a lingering question of whether it is right to put their families through such hardship. As long as this spark of concern remains, the path to appointing talented individuals will inevitably become more difficult.