Government Performance Evaluation: Ministry of Economy and Finance Achieves A Grade After 3 Years... Ministry of Unification and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Rank Lowest

Ministry of Economy and Finance Excels in Fiscal Soundness and Inflation Management
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Praised for Improving Korea-US and Korea-Japan Relations
Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Korea Communications Commission Remain 'Perennial Bottom-Rankers'

The Ministry of Economy and Finance returned to the top A grade in the government central administrative agency performance evaluation last year after three years. It received favorable evaluations for relatively stable management of inflation and unemployment rates, and for maintaining high national credibility through efforts to improve fiscal soundness. On the other hand, the Korea Communications Commission, which experienced severe internal turmoil, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which is scheduled to be abolished, both received the lowest C grade. The Ministry of Unification also dropped to a C grade after one year due to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations and other repercussions.

According to the '2023 Government Performance Evaluation Results' reported by the Office for Government Policy Coordination at the Cabinet meeting presided over by the President on the 6th, among 45 central administrative agencies, six agencies including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport received A grades. At the vice-ministerial level, the Ministry of Personnel Management, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, National Tax Service, Korea Customs Service, Korea Forest Service, and Korea Coast Guard were named A grade.

Efforts for Fiscal Soundness... Ministry of Economy and Finance Returns to A Grade

The Ministry of Economy and Finance was downgraded to a B grade in the 2020 evaluation but rose back to an A grade after three years. Although it had received many criticisms due to tax revenue forecast errors, it was highly evaluated for managing the macroeconomy stably amid the global complex crisis situation. Last year, the inflation rate was 3.6%, lower than major countries such as the United States (4.1%), the United Kingdom (6.8%), and Germany (5.9%), and the unemployment rate was 2.7%, the lowest ever recorded. In particular, despite the difficult economic situation, the continuous pursuit of fiscal soundness in line with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's policy received positive evaluations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which had consistently remained at a B grade recently, also rose to an A grade. Last April, the Ministry expanded the Korea-US alliance to economic and advanced technology fields and restored the strained Korea-Japan relations by holding seven Korea-Japan summit meetings. Notably, it was evaluated for preparing against North Korea's threats through the adoption of the 'Washington Declaration' and the establishment of the Korea-US 'Nuclear Consultative Group,' as well as contributing to defense exports exceeding $13 billion and the establishment of the Overseas Koreans Office.

Korea National Police Agency and Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Rise from C to B Grade

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport received an A grade again after 2022 by managing housing prices relatively stably and normalizing real estate regulations such as easing resale restrictions. The Ministry of Employment and Labor rose from a B to an A grade by contributing to the establishment of labor-management rule of law, including securing the participation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions in accounting disclosure. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs received an A grade for six consecutive years with export expansion and innovative policies like the '1,000 Won Breakfast.'

Among the core economic ministries, except for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, both the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Financial Services Commission maintained B grades. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy received good evaluations in major policies, regulatory innovation, government innovation, and policy communication but received the lowest evaluation in proactive administration. The Korea National Police Agency, which caused controversy over inadequate pre- and post-response to the Itaewon disaster in 2022, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, whose chairman appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration was replaced, also rose from a C to a B grade after one year.

On the afternoon of the 14th of last month, when North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, citizens at the Seoul Station waiting room were watching related news reports.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

'Deterioration of Inter-Korean Relations'... Ministry of Unification Drops to C Grade

On the other hand, the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Korea Communications Commission, and Personal Information Protection Commission received C grades. Among vice-ministerial agencies, the Military Manpower Administration, Administrative City Construction Agency, Saemangeum Development Agency, and Nuclear Safety and Security Commission received C grades.

The Korea Communications Commission continued to be in a de facto 'plant ministry' state after the dismissal of former chairman Han Sang-hyuk in May last year and the impeachment incident of former chairman Lee Dong-kwan, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is scheduled to be abolished. The Ministry of Unification, which had received an A grade in 2018 and remained at a C grade, rose to a B grade in 2022 but dropped back to a C grade this time. A Ministry of Unification official said, "The most significant factor seems to be the deteriorated inter-Korean relations situation."

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