National Planning Committee reports progress and restructures policy implementation on the 30th.

Redefining the Nature and Role of Organizations

The National Planning Committee, which was launched on June 16, 2025, is a temporary planning organization established to structure the new government's policy direction and prepare an execution framework. This committee is not a body that complements the functions of the presidential transition committee rather, it serves as a policy design organization that organizes mid-to-long-term plans necessary for the overall operation of the state into practical units and coordinates with various ministries. The committee is currently past the halfway point of its 60-day activity period. So far, the committee has progressed beyond planning drafts, with some areas moving into the implementation preparation stage. Its operating method is based on a cyclical structure consisting of concentrated daily meetings and collaboration among subgroups rather than a traditional structure centered around policy meetings. Each workday begins with a meeting at 8 or 8:30 AM, followed by a schedule of continuous meetings, coordination, and data review throughout the day and evening. While there are internal evaluations of a high workload, it is being maintained based on the judgment that this method is unavoidable due to the nature of the work structure. The committee recognizes the density of the schedule internally and is implementing minimal on-site response measures, such as providing dinner coupons during meetings. However, this approach stems from the awareness that policy planning should not proceed more slowly than that of the executive branch.

Current Status of National Policy Task Design and Implementation Plan

The most critical achievement is the establishment of the preliminary draft of the national agenda and the national vision system. The committee adopts a multi-layered structure, introducing a hierarchical model where the national vision is at the top, followed by strategic tasks, core policies, and implementation tasks. This system is organized in parallel across various sectors, and by July 11, the preliminary organization of all tasks and the coordination of implementation plans have been completed. The national agenda is centered on issues related to all ministries, with separate task forces (TF) operating in each area to ensure that key areas are managed simultaneously. In particular, the recently launched balanced growth TF and the basic social TF are currently operating at an accelerated pace. To prevent overlap of duties or omission of content between TFs, a real-time cross-checking structure is being implemented. The government reorganization proposal was reported to the President in draft form on July 3, and informal consultations with the presidential office, the prime minister's office, and related ministries are ongoing. Major contents such as adjustment of the functions of the prosecution office, reorganization of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the establishment of a policy coordination body for science and technology are not publicly disclosed at this stage. Matters requiring legislative amendments in the National Assembly are planned to be transferred for separate reporting outside the implementation plan. Meanwhile, 16 tasks classified as fast-tracked initiatives are under discussion with respective ministries, and those matters for which agreements are completed will be sequentially implemented immediately. These tasks primarily do not require legislative adjustments or can be adjusted at the level of enforcement decrees, and they are designed to start implementation without major policy promotion, focusing instead on practical review.

Structure for gathering public opinion and handling complaints

The structure for reflecting public opinions in the policy-making process consists of two main components. One is the online platform called 'Everyone's Square,' and the other is the offline mobile consultation window known as 'Everyone's Square Bus.' Both channels follow a structure where the submitted opinions are electronically classified in real-time and automatically transferred to the relevant division. The platform is open to the general public, experts, and civic organizations without distinction, and the number of grievances and policy proposals received to date has increased between two to ten times compared to previous administrations. Notably, there is an increase in the qualitative composition ratio of policy proposals, with many specific suggestions arriving on issues like administrative restructuring closely tied to daily life, local policy improvement, and tax structure enhancement. This data is regularly shared at the division level, and the applicability of the proposals is assessed during the review process. Opinions deemed potentially applicable are recorded in the form of comments on the relevant policy items and reflected in the implementation plan. Conversely, items judged to be difficult to implement are documented internally and managed as reference materials for future use. While it does not directly influence policy decisions, it is evaluated as functioning as a baseline to enhance the coherence of policies. The committee uses the term 'reference' internally rather than 'convergence,' recognizing it as a means to bridge the gap between public opinions and policies.

Summary of Q&A on Sensitive Issues

The Q&A session held on July 13 at the press conference is a case that indirectly shows the policy direction and stance of the committee. The chairman made clear his position on some sensitive topics. First, regarding the government name issue, he emphasized the principle of "not setting a separate name." This seems to stem from a cautious attitude towards branding the government or politicizing slogans. The expression "the people will judge for themselves" is a way to encourage autonomous acceptance. Second, concerning the schedule for reporting on the Central Election Management Committee's work, he stated that "there are plans to visit the Election Commission in July to receive focused reports on election response to inadequacies and issues related to amending the National Referendum Act." In particular, since some provisions of the current National Referendum Act have been ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, there is a shared recognition within the committee that it is inevitable to resolve this. Third, regarding the organizational restructuring plan, he clarified that "there were no major disagreements with the president." However, since detailed adjustments may change depending on discussions with each ministry and the National Assembly, the official announcement may be postponed until after August. On the issues raised by some media regarding the abolition of the prosecution office and the transfer of the Ministry of Science and ICT, a neutral position of neither confirming nor denying was maintained. Fourth, regarding the issue of execution power, Chairman Lee Han-joo stated that "it is currently in the organizing stage, and execution will be judged later." The emphasis is more on the feasibility of the implementation plan and whether it can be accommodated within the financial structure rather than the execution itself.

Follow-up schedule and execution-based maintenance

The remaining 30 days will be a time for organization and final adjustments. The committee plans to complete the entire project into an official report by mid-August, while each subcommittee is working on structuring tasks considering legislative, budgetary, and political issues. In particular, in order to secure implementation capability, designated responsibilities, execution priorities, and performance indicators are being developed in conjunction with the policy implementation roadmap. This will later be handed over to the Office for Government PolicyCoordination, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and various ministries to transition into the practical operational phase. The committee has maintained its policy of not disclosing the results so far, based on the judgment that "uncompleted content could rather cause confusion." Chairman Lee Han-joo explained, "Rushing to announce without a consistent structure could lead to a decline in policy credibility." The committee is also distributing its own briefing materials in a limited manner, and its responses to the media are maintained under a closed structure, allowing only a small portion to be disclosed. This is interpreted as a management approach to prevent political interpretations due to information overload and to clarify accountability after the final report.

Review and Outlook

The operation of the National Planning Commission shows several characteristics in terms of policy planning structure. First, the planning and execution are not separated but are carried out in parallel. By designing the implementation plan together in the early stages of planning, a policy structure with a high likelihood of realization is created. Second, the way public opinions are processed is structured not as a one-way collection but as a method that combines review and application. This is a system that considers the potential for substantial reflection rather than simply encouraging promotional participation. Third, for sensitive issues, a response that separates openness and coordination is pursued, and the more significant the policy impact of the issue, the later the final decision is made, with a separation between the timing of the official announcement and the implementation, seeking administrative stability. Overall, the latter stage of the National Planning Commission focuses more on preparation for execution rather than announcements. It is expected that there will be continued practical work, such as completing implementation plans, identifying the need for legal adjustments, and securing grounds for budget preparation. "Preventing confusion" and "ensuring execution capacity," which were repeatedly mentioned in the discussions, can be summarized as the core principles of this period.