[Reporter’s Notebook] Vice Minister Appointment Rumors for "Kim Eo-jun’s Brother-in-Law" Unbeknownst to the Minister

"I was not aware of it beforehand; I found out through the news article."

At the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held on October 14, Minister Han Sung-sook responded this way when asked about the rumored nomination of In Tae-yeon, former Presidential Secretary for Self-Employed Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration, as the second vice minister. It is concerning that the minister learned about such a key personnel decision in her own ministry only through a news article, just like the general public.

The controversy surrounding former Secretary In at the audit is not unrelated to the fact that he is the brother-in-law of Kim Eo-jun, a pro-government YouTuber. Of course, the fact that former Secretary In is related to Kim does not directly determine his suitability as vice minister. However, it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste that the minister was unaware of important information regarding the appointment of a vice minister-a matter that could escalate into a political controversy.

Minister Han stated, "I hope that someone with professional knowledge of small business owners will be appointed as the second vice minister." Voices from within the small business community also continue to call for "the appointment of a field expert who has a deep understanding of small business policies, extensive experience in policy implementation, and hands-on field experience, to lead the transition in small business policy."

The backdrop to these expectations and demands is the urgent reality faced by small business owners. Last year, for the first time ever, the number of business closures surpassed one million, highlighting the precarious situation of small businesses. Economic uncertainties at home and abroad persist, and the debt burden of self-employed individuals continues to grow to levels that are difficult for the national economy to withstand.

The soon-to-be-appointed second vice minister will bear the heavy responsibility of leading efforts on the front lines to improve the business and revenue structures of small business owners who are being pushed to the brink, thereby promoting growth. At the same time, this role involves overseeing and directing practical work to address structural issues, such as digital transformation and support for business closure and recovery. Furthermore, as this is a newly created vice minister position, it is bound to have a significant impact on the overall policy direction of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in the future.

In this situation, it is undesirable for personnel decisions to be made without the minister’s knowledge or for appointments that, whether acknowledged or not, could give rise to political controversy. Since the president has not yet made a clear statement on the matter, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion. However, even if former Secretary In is deemed the right candidate, the process should be procedurally sound enough that the entire ministry, including the minister, can accept it and explain its appropriateness to the public.