Yoon President-Elect's Appointments: Securing Expertise but Missing Diversity

Transition Team "No Hero Worship"... Experts Appointed in Each Field
Presidential Office Following Cabinet Shows Concentration of Seoul National University Graduates, 60s, and Males
Experts Say "Lack of Diversity and Minority Consideration, Absence of Youth Could Be a Burden"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / Transition Team Photojournalists

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Geum Boryeong] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol has completed the new administration lineup by announcing his aides' appointments. The key theme of Yoon's personnel selections, revealed through the first cabinet and the recent presidential office appointments, can be summarized as 'practical experts.' However, this process also featured the predominant selection of 'Seoyuknam' (Seoul National University graduates, in their 60s, male) and the reappointment of figures who were active during the Lee Myung-bak government.

A key official from the Presidential Transition Committee said on the 2nd about Yoon's personnel style, "There is no 'Wein Seolgwan' (?人設官, creating official positions for people)." In the past, the first appointments of a new government were often divided based on election contributions or personal connections, but this was excluded, and people were evaluated strictly on their abilities.

The most prominent feature of the new administration's appointments is expertise. Looking at the presidential office aides announced on the 1st, the organization was slimmed down with a focus on policy coordination, while practical experts with specialized knowledge in each field were placed at the forefront. Economic bureaucrats, military personnel, professors, journalists, and politicians were all appointed according to the characteristics of the organization. The remaining presidential office secretary appointments will also maintain this trend. For example, the newly established Economic Security Secretary position was filled with criteria focusing on economic experts who are also well-versed in international relations and security. This contrasts with the early Moon Jae-in administration’s presidential office, which was filled with ideological figures such as Lim Jong-seok (Chief of Staff), Cho Kuk (Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs), and Hong Jang-pyo (Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs).

However, the focus on expertise has given rise to the new term 'Seoyuknam.' It represents a revival of elitism. In fact, among the 19 nominees for prime minister and ministers in the first cabinet, 10 were Seoul National University graduates. The average age was 60.6 years, with 11 in their 60s. 85% were male. Candidates such as Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification nominee; Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs nominee; and Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor nominee all meet these three criteria. Among the presidential office appointments, 4 out of 11 were Seoul National University graduates, with an average age of 60.1 years. The only female appointee was Kang In-sun, the designated spokesperson.

The reappointment of figures who served during the Lee Myung-bak (MB) administration is also notable. In the recent presidential office appointments, all National Security Office aides?Kim Seong-han, designated National Security Office Director; Kim Tae-hyo, designated First Deputy Director; and Shin In-ho, designated Second Deputy Director?were active during the MB government. Kang Seung-gyu, designated Senior Secretary for Civil Society, served as the press officer during Lee’s tenure as Seoul mayor and participated in the presidential campaign, making him a pro-Lee faction figure. It is also expected that the remaining presidential office appointments will be filled by prosecutors, who are the base of President-elect Yoon.

Um Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, said, "Focusing on expertise and ability, there is no sign of appointments based on the principles of democracy that consider diversity and minorities," adding, "Although the administration succeeded with the support of 'Idaenam' (men in their 20s), the lack of consideration for youth will become a burden in the future." Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University Graduate School of Policy said, "From the perspective of democratic, progressive, and national integration values in our society, this is a significant regression."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.