The Lee Jae-myung government reshuffles the presidential office for a fresh start with a people-centered website.

The national governance philosophy of the Lee Jae-myung government

The Lee Jae-myung government has declared 'a government that belongs to the people' and 'national governance together with the people' as its governance philosophy since its inception, reflecting this in the entire administrative structure and digital communication system. The reorganization of the presidential office and the revamping of the official website are key measures aimed at concretely and practically implementing this philosophy. This can be understood as a fundamental attempt to not only change the structure but also alter the direction of national governance and the way the relationship with the people is established.

President's Office Organizational Restructuring

The organizational restructuring plan for the presidential office announced on June 6, 2025, reflects President Lee Jae-myung's national governance philosophy. Through this restructuring, the presidential office has been reorganized to include 4 minister-level officials, 11 vice-minister-level officials, and 50 secretaries. The main changes are as follows: - Expansion of the National Security Situation Room: Strengthened the role of the control tower for national governance to enhance policy coordination and crisis response capabilities. - Direct transfer of the National Crisis Management Center: Elevated from the existing second deputy of the National Security Office to be directly under the chief of the security office, thereby enhancing capabilities for national security and public safety response. - Establishment of the Integrated Listening Office: A reorganized office expanded from the Civil Society Office, responsible for conflict mediation and social dialogue, with the installation of a youth official to reflect the voices of the younger generation in policies. - Establishment of the AI Future Planning Office: Comprehensive handling of the promotion of the artificial intelligence industry, development of advanced technologies, and responses to population and climate crises, leading future strategic policies. - Establishment of the Financial Planning Advisor: Responsible for establishing and coordinating financial strategies to realize national tasks. - Expansion of the Gender Equality and Family Secretary: Expanded from the existing Gender and Family Secretary to redesign family policies from a gender equality perspective. - Establishment of the Marine Fisheries Secretary: Plans and coordinates strategies for the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan and the development of polar shipping routes. - Establishment of the Judicial System Secretary: Responsible for strengthening the protection of citizens' human rights through prosecution and judicial reform, and restoring trust in the rule of law. - Establishment of the Management Secretary: A temporary organization preparing for the presidential office's return to the Blue House, aimed at redefining symbolic spaces. This restructuring can be seen as infrastructure maintenance for designing medium- to long-term national pathways, beyond short-term operational efficiency. In particular, the Integrated Listening Office and AI Future Planning Office are function-centered organizations that did not exist in past presidential offices, focusing on the dual pillars of public participation and future response.

The Importance of Website Redesign

The change that is gaining attention alongside the organizational restructuring is the renovation of the presidential office website. The Lee Jae-myung government is preparing to transform the website from a simple information portal into a digital platform that encourages real-time communication and participation with the public. This is an attempt to structurally realize the slogan of 'a government that belongs to the people' rather than just leaving it as a catchphrase. However, as of the afternoon of June 5, the official presidential office website still displayed remnants of the previous administration with a notice regarding the transition from the Yoon Suk-yeol government, which has drawn criticism for causing confusion among the public. This situation left much to be desired in terms of the symbolism and consistency of the government's launch. Nonetheless, the transition notice has recently been removed from the website, and a new guide image has appeared. The following message is clearly conveyed: 'The Lee Jae-myung government presidential office is preparing a new digital communication platform to realize a government that belongs to the people and governance in partnership with the public. We will soon formally greet you, thank you.' This message can be interpreted not just as a simple announcement of the renovation, but as a political declaration. The expression 'the people are the masters' reveals the fundamental principle of the politics pursued by the Lee Jae-myung government, while the phrase 'we will formally greet you' suggests the formation of a new relationship between the government and the public through digital space. This indicates that the website will function as a space for interactive democracy, going beyond mere information delivery.

Relationship between Organizational Restructuring and Website Revamping

This reorganization of the presidential office and the revamp of the website are not separate measures but rather two complementary wings that realize the overall philosophy of governance. On one hand, it aims to efficiently redesign government organization, while on the other, it seeks to redefine the way to connect with the public, thereby innovating both the form and substance of politics. Furthermore, the governance philosophy declared first in the digital space serves as a practical message that the government intends to reach into the daily lives of each citizen, transcending the physical center of power, the Blue House. This can be seen as a process of reducing the political distance and laying the foundation for the government and the public to become 'partners' in policy-making.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The reorganization of the presidential office under the Lee Jae-myung government is an attempt to redefine the essence of politics, going beyond mere personnel administration or design improvements. The philosophy of "a government owned by the people" is gradually manifesting in both organizational and website structures. While it remains to be seen what practical functions and participation pathways the upcoming digital platform will encompass, one thing is clear from the changes observed thus far: this government prioritizes communication, participation, and the future as its main values. When the language of administration changes and the names of organizations differ, we must pay attention to the value transition that lies behind it. To ensure that this change is not merely a slogan but is implemented in a way that is felt in the daily lives of citizens, it will also be our collective responsibility to continuously monitor and participate in the subsequent practices and operations.