Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS) [Photo provided by Korea Gas Corp.]
About one in four public institutions in South Korea is operating with a vacant top post or in a transition period after a term has ended, according to government data. The prolonged delays are drawing concern that policy execution could weaken, particularly at agencies responsible for industry and energy, as geopolitical risks in the Middle East and domestic and external economic strains such as a weak currency and high inflation intensify.
As of Monday, the public institution management information system ALIO showed that 35 of 342 state-run enterprises, quasi-government agencies and other public institutions had no chief executive, or 10.2%.
Another 31 institutions, or 9.1%, were being led by their outgoing heads on an acting basis because successors had not been appointed even after terms expired. An additional 17 institutions, or 5%, were set to see their leaders’ terms end in the first half of this year. In total, roughly 25% were either in a leadership vacuum or approaching a changeover.
Several agencies tied to industry and energy policy remain without permanent leadership. Korea South-East Power, the Korea Power Exchange and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology Evaluation and Planning have vacant top posts. At Korea Gas Corp., KEPCO KPS and KEPCO MCS, incumbent chiefs are continuing in their roles after their terms ended because appointments have been delayed.
Korea Gas Corp. is a prominent case. President Choi Yeon-hye is still performing her duties after her term expired because a successor has not been named. The company narrowed applicants to five candidates through a recruitment process in November, but it moved to reopen the search after union opposition and a determination of disqualification by the supervising Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Korea Gas Corp. planned to close applications for president candidates at 6 p.m. Monday, but with the selection process typically taking about three months, an appointment within the first half of the year appears unlikely.
At KEPCO KPS, President Kim Hong-yeon, who took office in June 2021 for a three-year term, has remained in place for nearly two years after his term ended because a successor has not been chosen. The company’s board recently sought to reorganize its executive recommendation committee, but all related agenda items were voted down during internal discussions, further delaying follow-up work, according to reports.
In the industrial sector, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology Evaluation and Planning entered an acting-leadership system after its previous head, Jeon Yun-jong, recently moved to lead the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology. The schedule for recruiting a successor remains unclear.
The Energy Economics Institute and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency are among institutions whose leaders’ terms are also set to expire in the first half of the year. In political circles, some expect delayed appointments to accelerate only after the June local elections. Others have raised concern that top posts could again be used as a tool for post-election patronage.
Experts warned that extended leadership gaps could weaken policy responsiveness as uncertainty grows at home and abroad. An industry official said, “It is highly likely that the delayed appointments will be wrapped up sequentially only after the local elections,” adding, “With many pending issues piling up, the selection process should be sped up.”
As of Monday, the public institution management information system ALIO showed that 35 of 342 state-run enterprises, quasi-government agencies and other public institutions had no chief executive, or 10.2%.
Another 31 institutions, or 9.1%, were being led by their outgoing heads on an acting basis because successors had not been appointed even after terms expired. An additional 17 institutions, or 5%, were set to see their leaders’ terms end in the first half of this year. In total, roughly 25% were either in a leadership vacuum or approaching a changeover.
Several agencies tied to industry and energy policy remain without permanent leadership. Korea South-East Power, the Korea Power Exchange and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology Evaluation and Planning have vacant top posts. At Korea Gas Corp., KEPCO KPS and KEPCO MCS, incumbent chiefs are continuing in their roles after their terms ended because appointments have been delayed.
Korea Gas Corp. is a prominent case. President Choi Yeon-hye is still performing her duties after her term expired because a successor has not been named. The company narrowed applicants to five candidates through a recruitment process in November, but it moved to reopen the search after union opposition and a determination of disqualification by the supervising Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Korea Gas Corp. planned to close applications for president candidates at 6 p.m. Monday, but with the selection process typically taking about three months, an appointment within the first half of the year appears unlikely.
At KEPCO KPS, President Kim Hong-yeon, who took office in June 2021 for a three-year term, has remained in place for nearly two years after his term ended because a successor has not been chosen. The company’s board recently sought to reorganize its executive recommendation committee, but all related agenda items were voted down during internal discussions, further delaying follow-up work, according to reports.
In the industrial sector, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology Evaluation and Planning entered an acting-leadership system after its previous head, Jeon Yun-jong, recently moved to lead the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology. The schedule for recruiting a successor remains unclear.
The Energy Economics Institute and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency are among institutions whose leaders’ terms are also set to expire in the first half of the year. In political circles, some expect delayed appointments to accelerate only after the June local elections. Others have raised concern that top posts could again be used as a tool for post-election patronage.
Experts warned that extended leadership gaps could weaken policy responsiveness as uncertainty grows at home and abroad. An industry official said, “It is highly likely that the delayed appointments will be wrapped up sequentially only after the local elections,” adding, “With many pending issues piling up, the selection process should be sped up.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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