The Participatory Government has long stressed systematic government administration, but its way of running government is running into trouble. You hear all sorts criticism about it having "run aground" or being in a state of "thorough chaos." The criticism is generally that the way it has run things using "presidential advisory commissions" while leaving ministries and other executive branch offices out of the picture is what is causing the chaos. Such criticism existed before, but with the Haengdam Island development project it has come to the forefront.
The Presidential Committee on Northeast Asian Cooperation that is currently under attack and the other 11 presidential advisory commissions are key organizations within the Participatory Government and are responsible for its 100 policy tasks. If those commissions fall apart state projects such as the plan on balanced national development could be shaken, and so the situation is very serious. You see a deep rejection of Roh's government in the scolding being led by the conservative media. The advisory commissions have handled long-term state tasks that cannot be pursued by ministries soaked in bureaucratic habits. The part of the system that works should not be negated because some of it has been found to be a problem.
However, it is not right for Cheong Wa Dae to think of the criticism as nothing more than a malicious offensive and obstinately insist there is no need to review the activities of its commissions. The Haengdam Island development project has made it clear that there is a problem with Cheong Wa Dae's system of running state affairs, between the advisory commissions and the responsible ministries. Commissions are going around ministries at the policy planning level and even in the execution of policy, and that is more than enough to bring criticism that they are abusing their authority. It is also a problem if the key members of the commissions have been discussing and pursuing important tasks on the agenda based largely along the lines of personal connections. Whatever the circumstances it is not normal government administration to have ministries and other government offices given reduced roles because of the commissions. The opportunity should be taken to review everything in detail and fix what needs changing, and to make the duties and authority of the commissions clear. If that does not happen it really is possible that major issues in the government's agenda could "run aground."
The Hankyoreh, 2 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Time to Review How Government Runs Government |