[Exclusive] 'Jeogowi' with Declining Business Continuity to Be Upgraded to Central Administrative Agency

The government is seriously considering elevating the status of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee (Jeogowi), which currently functions primarily as an advisory committee, to that of a central administrative agency. Since advisory committees lack independent personnel authority and can only receive staff through consultations with various government ministries, there have been ongoing criticisms regarding the discontinuity of their work.

According to related ministries on the 12th, the government is reviewing governance reforms for Jeogowi. In particular, discussions are focusing on organizational restructuring that can establish a stable personnel structure to ensure continuity of work. A senior government official stated, “To overcome the limitations of Jeogowi, which operates through temporary assignments from other ministries, the elevation to a central administrative agency is being discussed,” adding, “(If it becomes a central administrative agency) it will be able to work continuously with a sense of belonging.”

원본보기 아이콘

Despite Jeogowi being a presidential advisory body, there have been consistent criticisms that it fails to serve as a control tower for low fertility and aging policies because it lacks policy execution and formulation functions. Both inside and outside the government, there is a general consensus that strengthening Jeogowi’s functions is urgent.

Under Article 23 of the Framework Act on Low Fertility and Aging Society, Jeogowi is defined as a committee to deliberate on important policy matters. It is an advisory committee that provides expert opinions in response to administrative agencies’ requests or assists in decision-making. Advisory committees do not have independent personnel authority. Therefore, they operate by receiving dispatched personnel from other ministries for about one year through consultations.

In contrast, central administrative agencies can independently perform some of their duties. They can recruit their own staff and carry out long-term work within the agency. To change Jeogowi’s nature to that of a central administrative agency, the secretariat ministry, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, must coordinate with related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to amend the Framework Act on Low Fertility and Aging Society and other relevant laws.

Within the government, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there is a strong view that a personnel structure capable of long-term dedication to low fertility-related tasks is essential. Regardless of establishing a new Population Division or strengthening Jeogowi’s status, continuity of personnel responsible for actual work must be secured. Currently, about 30 people work at Jeogowi, most of whom are dispatched from other ministries on roughly one-year terms.

Another government official explained, “Since Jeogowi assigns personnel through consultations with related ministries, short-term rotations occur, making it difficult to develop a sense of belonging,” adding, “Therefore, to empower Jeogowi, securing stability in its work is important, even if decision-making authority over finances and budgets is set aside.” There are criticisms that short-term personnel dispatched from various ministries face limitations in handling long-term agendas. Alongside this, there are reports of behind-the-scenes efforts to upgrade the position of the secretariat chief, who oversees Jeogowi’s operations, from a director-level (Grade 2) to a senior director-level (Grade 1), aiming to strengthen Jeogowi’s capacity as a control tower for population issues.

For now, Jeogowi plans to strengthen its operational capabilities by receiving key personnel from related ministries. Recently, Jeogowi requested the dispatch of officials, including director-level bureaucrats, from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and is expected to announce related personnel appointments soon. It is anticipated that economic officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance will be assigned as the secretariat chief. A Jeogowi official stated, “We have consulted with each ministry regarding the necessary personnel,” but added, “However, the personnel announcements will not be made all at once.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.