SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will once again receive live televised briefings on the government's second-half policy agenda, pressing ahead with the format despite criticism that it has become more of a public spectacle than a working policy review.
The presidential office said Wednesday that Lee will receive reports from government ministries and agencies from July 15 to July 21 in nine sessions, reviewing progress on tasks assigned during the administration's first round of policy briefings late last year.
The reviews will cover progress on structural reform, region-led growth initiatives and projects aimed at restoring state institutions. About 200 members of a public observer panel will attend the sessions, asking questions and offering suggestions after presentations by government officials and discussions with the president.
Lee announced on Facebook that applications for the citizen panel would be accepted through July 6.
"This is the first ministry briefing jointly conducted by the government and the people," Lee wrote.
"Rather than simply announcing achievements, it will be an opportunity to review policy outcomes together with citizens and discuss the future direction of state affairs."
The initiative has become a defining feature of Lee's governing style since his first round of ministry briefings, but it has also exposed a sharp political divide over how government should operate.
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the conservative People Power Party said the broadcasts could improve transparency but warned that they risked becoming political theater.
"Lee Jae Myung government's livestreamed ministry briefings are meaningful in that they are an experiment to reveal the operation of government directly to the public," Yoon said.
"However, the current format appears to place more emphasis on performance and public reprimands than on policy reviews."
"Government is not a show but a system. The strengths of transparency and livestreaming should be preserved, but they need to be complemented with calm policy discussions and a long-term vision for state affairs, rather than controversial remarks and impromptu instructions," he added.
Rep. Ahn Sang-hoon, also of the People Power Party, dismissed the format as "showmanship."
"It's governance for show," Ahn said.
"Ministries will spend more time preparing materials for presidential briefings than working on detailed implementation plans."
He added that even "if a president is a genius, trying to oversee everything personally will ultimately produce weak governance," arguing that ministers should instead be given broader authority while the president focuses on major policy issues.
Rep. Cho In-cheol of the ruling Democratic Party welcomed the initiative.
"I wholeheartedly welcome it because government can no longer operate behind closed doors as it did in the past," Cho said.
"It is also a promise to the people: 'This is what we will do. Please watch whether the government is doing well or not.'"
Cho acknowledged that the process could be burdensome for civil servants but said, "The civil service should no longer be afraid of adopting private-sector practices," adding that Lee's informal style of communication was intended to ease pressure on government officials.
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