Amid the upcoming launch of the National Planning Commission (NPC), which will outline Lee Jae-myung's government's five-year blueprint, it appears that the 'call-up for the NPC' is being overlooked. The NPC is an entity similar to the Presidential Transition Committee. However, unlike the transition committee, which has been regarded as a 'path to success', the NPC reportedly offers less personnel merit, with the perception that the workload will be heavier. The advantages have diminished, and the disadvantages have increased.
According to the government on the 15th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, among others, have received requests from the presidential office to send personnel and have narrowed down their candidates. The NPC is scheduled to launch on the 16th. Government officials dispatched to the NPC will be partially decided before its launch, and more are expected to be added afterwards.
Commissioner Lee Han-joo has completed the appointment of three vice chairs and the division heads for seven subcommittees to carry out the committee's work by specialized fields. Civil servants affiliated with relevant administrative agencies will be dispatched to the NPC to be assigned to practical teams supporting the subcommittees.
The NPC effectively replaces the role of the transition committee in Lee Jae-myung's government, which launched without one. Participation in the transition committee has historically been seen as a shortcut to rapid promotion or success. Those dispatched to the transition committee often go on to work in the presidential office or return to their departments to take on key positions after its activities conclude. There has been a tendency for the transition committee to select the 'aces' from each ministry, and for those dispatched, there was also the advantage of expanding connections with new government personnel, which could benefit their future public service careers.
In fact, Ambassador Choi Joong-kyung, who served as a specialist at the transition committee during the Lee Myung-bak government, has held positions as the economic secretary at the presidential office and the Minister of Knowledge Economy (now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) after the government launched.
The transition committee during the Park Geun-hye administration selected figures like former Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, who was then affiliated with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as dispatched personnel. After serving as the head of planning at the presidential office for the Park Geun-hye administration, Hong later took on significant roles such as the head of the Government Policy Coordination Office before becoming the economic chief.
During the transition committee of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok is a representative case of 'continued success.' He was the first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the time of his dispatch but was later appointed as the first economic secretary of the presidential office and Deputy Prime Minister in the Yoon Suk-yeol government.
However, in bureaucratic circles, it is foreseen that most of the dispatched personnel for this NPC will return to their original positions. This is because the presidential office is separately selecting administrative officials now that the government has launched. Unlike in the past, it is perceived that 'entering the presidential office' is difficult.
Of course, there is still the advantage of having an opportunity to 'make an impression' on key figures in the regime. However, President Lee Jae-myung's 'workaholic' nature has highlighted another disadvantage for civil servants.
On the night of his inauguration day, late on the 4th, President Lee discussed emergency economic measures while working overtime. The next day, on the 5th, he reportedly held a high-intensity cabinet meeting for nearly four hours while having only a single gimbap for lunch. On the 11th, it was reported that a 40-something employee at the presidential office collapsed from overwork during work and was taken to the hospital. During his presidential campaign, President Lee had previously stated, 'The work of public officials is endless,' and 'Central government officials also need to be prepared.'
A government official noted, 'Wasn't President Lee known for making his subordinate officials work hard when he was the mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province?' and added, 'I think it's better to continue doing what you were doing than to jeopardize your health.'
Another government official explained, 'Since the working period is barely 60 days, it would be hard to refuse if asked to go, but there is a sense of hesitation as to whether there will be any particular merit once they return.'
Still, regardless of personal pros and cons, I want to applaud the efforts of civil servants who will quietly fulfill their roles to stabilize the government in its early stages.