South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung asks citizens to recommend Cabinet members

SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s Cabinet is now in the making, and his office has introduced a “public referral system” to take recommendations for key positions from everyday people.

Calling it a move aimed at getting the people involved in the President’s personnel nominations, Mr Lee’s office said it will be taking recommendations for Cabinet ministers, vice-ministers and heads of state-run institutions from June 10 to 16.

Recommendations can be sent to the official website run by the Ministry of Personnel Management, Mr Lee’s official social media accounts or by e-mail.

Those interested are to fill in the candidate’s area of specialty, the candidate’s personal information, such as name, gender, phone number and workplace, the reason for recommending the candidate and one’s own information.

Self-recommendations are accepted.

“True democracy begins when citizens exercise their sovereignty, get involved and make a change,” Mr Lee said in a Facebook post on June 10.

No specific restrictions are in place for South Koreans aged 14 or older submitting a recommendation for a nomination, Mr Lee’s spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing.

Mr Lee’s office will collect data on candidates submitted to the National Human Resources Database and proceed with a vetting process to form a shortlist, a stage which will not involve citizen engagement.

The presidential secretary for civil service discipline will participate in the vetting process, which would also involve an “open” review, Ms Kang added.

The presidential office has not elaborated on whether the number of recommendations a candidate receives could affect the President’s decision-making process in his nominations.

Grassroots recommendations for holders of public office were among Mr Lee’s presidential campaign pledges unveiled at a press conference in late May.

Before the briefing on June 10, prime minister nominee, Representative Kim Min-seok, was Mr Lee’s only Cabinet pick. But later that day, Mr Lee appointed six more vice-ministers of the Finance Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Industry Ministry.

According to the presidential office, these vice-ministerial appointments were made outside the public recommendation process.

Mr Lee is currently working with ministers appointed by disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol.

Mr Kim said in a news conference on June 10 that the introduction of a system allowing grassroots recommendations for minister posts is a “very natural process in that democracy is in the process of expanding”.

It was the latest move by the liberal President to get ordinary people involved in his decision-making process, as his administration has described itself as “the government of popular sovereignty”.

Earlier on June 8, Mr Lee revealed through posts on social platform X that a recent announcement of plans to broadcast reporters asking questions of officials of the presidential office live during briefings was based on “a proposal he received through a reply to his social media”.

He then added on the X post: “We always take note of the various opinions of our citizens (online), as they often carry realistic ideas and suggest ways for a practical improvement.” THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK