Three-Day Ministry Briefings from June 18 to 20
"Failed to Properly Reflect President's Pledges, Inadequate Reports"
Financial Services Commission, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety Briefings Scheduled for the 19th
Cho Seungrae, spokesperson for the National Policy Planning Committee, which is serving as the transition committee for the Lee Jaemyung administration, stated on the 19th, "The ministry briefings have been, in a word, extremely disappointing," and added, "We will require all ministries to submit their briefings again."
The National Policy Planning Committee has been staying in Sejong City from June 18 to 20 to receive ministry briefings over three days. On the first day, the Economic Division 1, which includes the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Economic Division 2, which includes the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, delivered their briefings. On the second day, June 19, briefings from the Financial Services Commission, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are scheduled.
Spokesperson Cho pointed out, "Chairman Lee Hanju of the National Policy Planning Committee also mentioned this yesterday, but upon reviewing the briefings, we found that there was a lack of proper analysis and reflection of President Lee Jaemyung's pledges, and the reports merely listed outdated tasks. The ministries failed to establish a concrete vision suited to the new administration." He further criticized, "This is a scene that vividly demonstrates the confusion and collapse within the public sector during the three years of the Yoon Sukyeol administration, the period of emergency martial law, and the six months of insurrection."
He continued, "We will proceed with the briefings until tomorrow, but I do not expect the situation to change significantly. The committee will ensure that the issues and suggestions raised by the National Policy Planning Committee over these three days are reflected, so that each ministry can reconsider the national vision and philosophy of the new administration and resubmit their briefings."
Specifically, he pointed out that the briefing from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which was held by Economic Division 1 on June 18, was inadequate. Cho stated, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance needs to develop measures to ensure the accuracy of tax revenue forecasts and fiscal sustainability. They must also proactively consider comprehensive plans for the operation of public institutions." He emphasized, "There needs to be a policy response on how to reverse the declining potential growth rate and how to improve the productivity of the Korean economy." He added, "There was also a suggestion to form a task force (TF) specifically to address how to raise the potential growth rate."
Regarding the National Tax Service, discussions were held on building systems for an AI-driven transformation, and it was noted that more consideration is needed on how to apply AI to its operations.
In Economic Division 2, the Ministry of Science and ICT presented its detailed implementation plan for making Korea one of the top three AI powers and reported on the planned 100 trillion won investment in AI. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups discussed new industries, while the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family addressed issues of gender equality and multicultural families. The Ministry of Health and Welfare discussed medical expenses, integrated care, suicide prevention, and the income security system.
In Social Division 2, the Ministry of Education's briefing included plans for AI education in elementary and secondary schools and the "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" project. In the Political and Administrative Division, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's briefing covered the Basic Law on Life Safety, the abolition of the Police Bureau, and measures to strengthen local finances. In the Foreign Affairs and Security Division, the Ministry of National Defense's briefing discussed ways to maintain overwhelming military power, strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and implement defense reforms.
Spokesperson Cho noted, "In particular, there was consensus with the Ministry of National Defense regarding the reorganization of the Defense Security Command. Detailed discussions were also held on ways to democratically control martial law authority and on the Martial Law Act."
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