Addressing concerns over vacancies and delays in public institution leadership appointments, Lee Hyung-il says “efforts underway to process swiftly”

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyung-il said, “We are making efforts to process appointments swiftly” and “We will move faster,” in response to concerns that many public institution heads are vacant or have completed their terms.

At the National Assembly Committee on Budget and Planning’s audit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the 22nd, Vice Prime Minister Lee stated this in response to a question from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Oh Gi-hyung, who noted that “about 15% of public institution heads are experiencing personnel vacancies or delays in successor appointments.”

Oh said, “Out of 342 institutions, 25 have not yet appointed an institutional head, and another 25 have had their terms expire without a successor being appointed, leaving the incumbent institutional head continuing to serve.”

Vice Prime Minister Lee said, “We are in the process of appointing institutional heads in accordance with procedures set by laws and regulations, and we will make every effort to proceed as swiftly as possible,” adding, “I believe balanced consideration is needed regarding the stable operation of institutions, autonomous management, and aligning terms.”

He further stated, “We will actively participate in discussions within the National Assembly so that reasonable solutions can be derived.”