Cheong Wa Dae Breaks Tradition
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak, who spent his first week at Cheong Wa Dae, is changing customary operations at the presidential office.
One of the noteworthy changes compared to previous administrations was seen at the first Cabinet meeting presided over by Lee, Monday.
Dropping the past procedure in which ministers reported paper-based policies in rotation, Lee proposed that Cabinet members discuss pending issues and generate reasonable policies during the meeting.
Lee will preside over the discussion-based Cabinet meeting one or two times per month and plans to entrust Prime Minister Han Seung-soo with the other meetings and a variety of bills requiring Cabinet endorsement.
``For effective discussion, the number of participants for the meeting will be 25 or less from the previous 30,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. ``The Cabinet meeting will usually start at 8 a.m. every Tuesday.''
The number of participants at the first meeting was 23, including the President.
Apart from the regular meetings, President Lee proposed the Cabinet ministers discuss issues by holding ``extraordinary'' meetings without being restricted by time whenever there are important issues.
The number of presidential secretaries attending also fell from 21 to 10.
Under Lee's instruction, Cheong Wa Dae has replaced the rectangular-type conference table with an oval table. ``The oval-type table will be more suitable for informal discussion,'' spokesman Lee said.
For sufficient preparation for discussion, the spokesman said, Cheong Wa Dae plans to notify ministers of discussion topics one or two weeks ahead of the meeting.
Except for office rooms for chief of staff and senior secretaries, the rooms for ordinary secretaries were closed.
The President also instructed Cheong Wa Dae officials to use public transport when they commute, saying: ``These days when oil prices are high, public officials should act as models.''
When Lee visited a company Saturday as part of his pledge to check the conditions of small and mid-sized enterprises himself, he was waiting in line with a plate to be served lunch at the company's cafeteria.
In addition, more streets and the fountain in front of the presidential office will be open to the public.
``Cheong Wa Dae will be one of the popular tourist attractions in Seoul for residents and foreigners,'' the spokesman said.
At the first Cabinet meeting, ministers had to serve coffee or tea themselves, with creamer and hot water.
