Roh Criticizes Government Downsizing Plan
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Incumbent President Roh Moo-hyun expressed skepticism about the government reorganization plan unveiled by the presidential transition team Wednesday.
He said that there is no hard evidence supporting the effectiveness of a small government yet.
Roh said this was the case with privatization too, which is seen as a major instrument in deregulating government.
``People tend to say that deregulation heals every problem in the economy, which is not quite true,'' he continued. ``I am afraid that the next government may lose momentum for its ambitious reform at some point.''
Prof. Moon M. Jae of the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University told The Korea Times that the plan was half finished as it did not include a specific plan for human resources realignment.
The professor said reducing overlapping functions and human resources realignment are two core pillars of effective government reorganization.
``About 30 percent of civil servants are expected to lose their positions as a result of the merger of government offices,'' he said. ``Therefore, the team should come up with a specific plan regarding where to place these surplus human resources under the reorganization.''
Moon commented that the downsizing plan seemed to be on the right track as it appears to be aimed at increasing the effectiveness of public services.
Five ministries are expected to close if the National Assembly approves the reorganization plan next month ― namely the Ministry of Information and Technology; the Ministry of Unification; the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family; the Ministry of Science and Technology; and the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
The transition team also said about a half of the presidential and governmental committees will go.
Some 201 out of 416 presidential and governmental committees will be abolished.
An official of the transition team said the newly proposed plan was designed to offer one-stop services to the private sector.
Sources said high-ranking government officials expressed worries over the downsizing plan as the disappearance of five ministries could endanger their job security.
An official working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a phone interview with The Korea Times that mixed responses have erupted.
``Government employees whose ministries are expected to have increased roles and functions are excited about the plan. But it is natural that government officials whose ministries will be dissolved or merged with others expressed deep concern about it,'' she said.
Even government officials at ministries that are expected to survive in the new government, are concerned about the possible negative fallout in the near future, she said.
The Ministry of Government Legislation survived in the reorganization plan but officials of the ministry are still concerned as it could be ``demoted'' and further reform could take place inside in the future.
Prof. Moon said effective management of government officials' morale is as important as effective implementation of the downsizing plan.
``The new government is hardly likely to achieve its goal of effective public services without the help of its civil servants. Therefore, it still needs to work on measures to boost their morale,'' he added.