Lee Jaemyung Administration's Policy Committee Reaches Halfway Point, Focused on Government Reorganization

Chairman Hanju Lee: "Thorough Review Until the Very End"

As the National Policy Planning Committee, which serves as the transition team for the Lee Jaemyung administration, reaches the halfway point of its 60-day activity period, attention is focused on the government reorganization plan, which has been identified as its top priority. Chairman Hanju Lee has taken the lead in coordinating with the presidential office, stating, "Since this is such an important issue, we will thoroughly review it until the very last moment."

Hanju Lee, Chairman of the National Policy Planning Committee, is listening to reporters' questions at a press briefing held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News Joint Coverage Team

At a press briefing on the 13th, Chairman Lee said, "We submitted a draft of the government reorganization plan on the 3rd of this month, and a review of the anticipated issues is scheduled," adding, "Government reorganization is such a critical topic that we will make sure to address every detail until the end."

From the very beginning, the committee has made preparing the government reorganization plan its highest priority. Among the main issues are the separation of the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers, and the division of the budgetary functions of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

It is reported that the issue of separating the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers is in the final stages of discussion, particularly regarding the nation's investigative capabilities. The committee has effectively suspended the prosecution's work reports indefinitely, citing a lack of understanding of presidential campaign pledges, insufficient preparation of reports, and confusion and gaps caused by personnel changes. The ruling party has formed an internal "Task Force for Responding to Prosecutorial Manipulation of Indictments," while the Cho Kuk Innovation Party has also submitted a proposal for the "Five Prosecutorial Reform Bills" to the committee.

Regarding the restructuring of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it is known that the government is considering transferring the financial policy functions of the Financial Services Commission to the ministry, and establishing a new Financial Supervisory Commission to oversee supervisory duties. The intention is that separating financial policy from supervisory functions will allow for proper checks and balances.

For the Ministry of Climate and Energy, options reportedly under consideration include creating a new organization by merging the energy sector of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy with the climate sector of the Ministry of Environment, or having the existing Ministry of Environment absorb the energy sector of the industry ministry.

However, the committee is refraining from commenting on the specifics or progress of major government reorganization proposals, such as those involving the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Climate and Energy. On the 13th, Park Honggeun, head of the committee's planning division, explained, "Releasing details before they are finalized could cause confusion, and there are still many areas that require coordination."