Formation of Constitution-Respecting Agency-Specific TFs Completed... Prime Minister Kim: "No Excessive Expansion of Investigations"

On November 24, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that all central administrative agencies have completed the formation of their respective "Constitution-Respecting Government Innovation Task Forces (TF)" and have officially begun operations. Many of the agencies under investigation have established hybrid TFs that include external advisory groups. Amid ongoing concerns both inside and outside the public sector regarding the operation of the Constitution-Respecting TFs, Prime Minister Kim Minseok called for restraint in the TFs' investigative activities, urging them to avoid excessive investigations.

The agency-specific TFs are set to investigate allegations raised not only through the media but also via National Assembly investigations, audits, internal whistleblowing, and voluntary reports, and will take necessary actions such as requesting disciplinary decisions as appropriate.

A total of 48 agency-specific TFs have been formed. While there are 49 central administrative agencies, investigations for the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat will be integrated and conducted by the General TF established within the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister Kim Minseok. Photo by Yonhap News

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An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination explained, "The General TF consists of Team 1 and Team 2. While Team 1 is responsible for overall coordination, Team 2 will conduct internal investigations for the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat."

Previously, on the 21st, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that it had completed the formation of the General TF, which will oversee and manage the activities of the agency-specific TFs, and that it had officially begun operations.

Of the agency-specific TFs formed, the most common type is the hybrid model (31 agencies), which consists of both internal staff and external advisory group members.

The hybrid model includes not only the Prime Minister’s Office but also key agencies subject to intensive review, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Prosecutors’ Office, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency, as well as the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Sixteen agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups, have established internal TFs composed solely of internal staff.

The Korea Coast Guard is the only agency to have formed an independent TF, consisting exclusively of external experts and advisory group members.

Most agency-specific TFs are composed of 10 to 15 members. Agencies with relatively more allegations, such as the Ministry of National Defense (35 members), National Police Agency (30 members), and National Fire Agency (19 members), have formed larger investigation teams.

The total number of external advisory group members is 125, with legal professionals (76 members) making up the largest share. Members from academia (31), as well as other experts and civic group activists, have also joined.

On the 21st, when the "Constitution-Respecting Government Innovation General Task Force" began full-scale operations to investigate whether public officials were involved in illegal activities related to the December 3 emergency martial law, Yoon Changryul, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination (second from left), presented appointment certificates to the advisory group of the Government Innovation General Task Force and took a commemorative photo at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From left: Yoon Taebeom, Professor at Korea National Open University; Director Yoon; Kim Jungmin, Chief Attorney at Open People Law Firm; and Lim Taehun, Director of the Military Human Rights Center.

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The Prime Minister’s Office explained, "Rather than appointing high-profile figures, the external advisory groups have been formed mainly with practical experts from the legal and academic fields who can provide professional advice and counsel during the investigation process," adding, "In most cases, the head of each agency will serve as the TF leader and take responsibility for the investigation."

All agency-specific TFs, including the Prime Minister’s Office, have also established internal whistleblower centers. Dedicated staff have been assigned, and information about the centers-including internal bulletin boards, email, and telephone contacts-has been made available to internal staff. The centers will operate until December 12.

On this day, Prime Minister Kim held an orientation meeting related to the Constitution-Respecting Government Innovation TF at the Government Complex Seoul. All working-level managers of the General TF and agency-specific TFs attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "Do not excessively expand the scope of the investigation," and "Focus on major issues directly related to insurrection, and ensure strict adherence to due process and the protection of the human rights of those under investigation."

He further stated, "During the current administration’s term, there will be no actions like these TFs that cause unrest in the public sector," and urged, "Do your utmost to ensure that major allegations are thoroughly addressed and resolved through the TF activities."

Prime Minister Kim also warned, "Any TF activities or members that lack restraint will be corrected immediately," and explained, "The sole purpose of the TF activities is to ensure rational reflection in personnel decisions."

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