"You work at night, do you? It doesn't matter. Just deliver results, just deliver results."
On the 21st, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol said during his inauguration speech at the government complex in Sejong, "Let's make the Ministry of Economy and Finance be reborn." This is interpreted as a commitment to realize the pragmatism emphasized by President Lee Jae-myung through results.
The inauguration ceremony was conducted not in the form of reading a prepared speech but rather after the deputy prime minister gave a lecture and took questions from staff. Koo urged for open communication, stating, "You don't have to find me difficult," and also requested to be treated like an older brother.
On that day, Koo emphasized that the Ministry of Economy and Finance should become an innovative partner in the public corporation of Korea and suggested five measures for innovation.
First, Koo stated that the Ministry of Economy and Finance should become a key employee of the public corporation of Korea. He said, "The ministry's staff should be kind servants to the shareholders, the citizens of the public corporation of Korea," adding, "Through this, we should become a Ministry of Economy and Finance that is trusted by the people."
Koo also mentioned that the ministry should become a partner to other departments. He said, "Instead of playing a leading role in front of other departments, we should be a ministry that helps and supports them," emphasizing cooperation, integration, and support with relevant departments.
Third, he urged to find solutions on the ground. Koo said, "We must become problem solvers focused on the field," adding, "We should always look into the difficulties in the field and shift all perspectives to be field-centric."
Fourth, he proposed to become an icon of innovation. Koo remarked, "We should always be awake, come up with innovative ideas, and combine those ideas with our work to achieve results." He promised exceptional rewards for employees who generate innovative ideas.
Lastly, he called for creating a smart workplace. Koo suggested, "We should minimize unnecessary forms like in-person reports and meetings, and create a culture where anyone can freely report new ideas directly to the deputy prime minister, regardless of their rank." He added that the productivity of work should be enhanced using technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
During the question-and-answer session that followed, questions also arose regarding AI, as Koo recently published a book on the subject. A Deputy Director asked, "As a new employee of the public corporation of Korea, I would like to ask how to achieve results in a rapidly changing society due to the emergence of AI." In response, Koo stated, "AI is a tool, not a goal," asserting that it should be specialized for use in specific fields.
Concluding the inauguration ceremony, which was conducted in the form of a meeting, Koo stated, "I will organize the ideas that emerged today and implement those that are feasible immediately," adding, "In the future, I will create a new Ministry of Economy and Finance together with the staff through such communication opportunities." He encouraged his employees, saying, "I sincerely say this. Let's achieve results."