By Jun Ji-hye
There is growing concern over a supersize ministry to be established by the incoming government after President-elect Park Geun-hye announced detailed plans for the tentatively named Ministry of Future, Creativity and Science.
According to the transition team Tuesday, the ministry will take charge of formulating policies relating to scientific research and development. It will also absorb affairs related to information and communications technology (ICT) and digital content, and also incorporate postal administration.
At the briefing, Chin Young, vice chairman of the transition team, said the ministry will have two vice ministers who will respectively be in charge of science and ICT affairs.
Following the announcement, concerns about concentrating too much power into a single body were raised because the recent trend in government has been to make departments compact, quick to respond and targeted in their purpose.
“Studies of public administration recommend rejecting using abstract words when naming government departments. It is right to use concrete words such as ‘trade,’ ‘foreign affairs,’ or ‘education.’ But including the word ‘future’ in the name of the ministry is just an abstract notion,” said Shim Ik-sup, professor at the department of public administration at Dongguk University.
He explained that using such a vague word could cause the ministry to become a giant entity.
“There is nothing unrelated to the future. Due to the inclusion of this word, the ministry is at risk of becoming a supersize body from its foundation, because almost any policy area can be listed under the word ‘future,’” he said.
The professor claimed it could result in a heavy centralization of power and lead to inefficiencies.
Shim said, “This trend will be further intensified if the ministry comes under the control of a powerful minister because he or she might be able to include any functions they want thanks to the ministry’s non-specific remit.”
Ju Chang-bum, public administration professor at Dongguk University, agreed in part with Shim.
Although he called for a need to establish a control center to tackle science and technology affairs, he cast doubt on whether or not it is appropriate to unite so many areas into one ministry.
“I can understand Park’s good intention in setting up such a body to control affairs related to science. But if it goes according to her envisioned plan, it will likely become a giant ministry operated by more than 60 trillion won ($ 56 million),” he said.
Ju stressed that its hugeness could probably hinder government ministries from holding each other in check.
Regarding such growing concerns, Yoo Min-bong, who chairs the team’s committee for planning and coordination of state affairs, said, “The ministry will be in charge of the significant part in realizing the President-elect’s vision for a ‘creative economy,’ stressing a new engine for economic growth in creativity, science and technology.”