[Policy Pulse]Time to Design the Trajectory of National Governance: Is the Transcontinental Track Ready?

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The activities of the National Policy Planning Committee, which is responsible for outlining the blueprint for national governance in place of the Presidential Transition Committee, are entering their final stage. Soon, the committee is expected to conclude its work by presenting the new administration's policy direction and agenda to the public through a national briefing.

National governance is much like a track train. A track train moves along a predetermined path. Even when obstacles arise, it removes them and moves forward, but it is difficult to change its course while in motion. The same applies to state affairs. The initial policy blueprint determines the trajectory for the next five years. Designing this trajectory is the role of the National Policy Planning Committee.

This year's National Policy Planning Report consists of around 100 policy tasks and over 10 key focus areas, following a structure similar to the 2017 White Paper of the National Policy Planning Advisory Committee. Additionally, the establishment of a separate body, the National Future Strategy Planning Committee, has been proposed to develop long-term strategies. This committee is expected to perform functions similar to the Policy Planning Committee under the Moon Jae-in administration.

The power of the policy planning document is immense. Upon appointment, each ministry focuses on implementing the designated policy tasks, and the results of these efforts are directly linked to the evaluation of civil servants and the performance records of ministers. In effect, the policy planning document serves as the "guideline" that determines the course of national governance for five years.

Therefore, there are both hopes and concerns regarding how meticulously the blueprint has been crafted. On the positive side, the committee includes many individuals with extensive experience in policy design, and it has accumulated the experience of past democratic administrations. However, there are also concerns. Due to the structural limitation of having to design an enormous number of tasks within a short period, the planning of mid- to long-term tasks may be insufficient.

In 2017, complex mid- to long-term tasks such as reducing inequality, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the demographic cliff, and balanced national development were presented, but their implementation results were limited. These challenges require a fundamental redesign of institutions and systems, making it difficult to expect short-term results.

The proposal for the National Future Strategy Planning Committee is encouraging, as it recognizes the need for long-term strategies. However, it is necessary to move beyond the perception that mid- to long-term tasks inherently require lengthy preparation and implementation. Instead, it is crucial to identify core mid- to long-term tasks that require prompt action, complete their design by 2025, and begin implementation in 2026.

As demonstrated by the early response to COVID-19, focused discussion and collective intelligence can yield remarkable results even within a short period. The establishment of community treatment centers, drive-through testing, and the social distancing system are proof of this. Korean society already possesses this capability.

The design of mid- to long-term tasks should follow a similar approach. Instead of closed reports, an open structure involving both experts and citizens is needed. "Open policy design," including online feedback collection and public discussions for each task, is technically feasible.

If the National Future Strategy Planning Committee is established, it should focus on selecting and intensively designing actionable tasks based on sufficient discussion, alongside formulating long-term strategies. For short-term tasks, speed is essential; for mid- to long-term tasks, focus is key.

Whether the train of national governance remains a roller coaster in an amusement park or becomes a transcontinental express depends on mid- to long-term policy design. If we do not design this trajectory now, we will find ourselves back at the starting point five years from now.

Park Neunghu, former Minister of Health and Welfare

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