The launch of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment appears likely to be delayed beyond the original target of Oct. 1. With a parliamentary audit ahead, it is not easy to adjust standing committees in the National Assembly in line with the government reorganization. Within the ruling party, options being discussed include launching as early as November after the audit, or in early January next year at the latest.
According to the political sphere on the 13th, the Democratic Party of Korea is pushing to delay the launch of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to be created by the government reorganization.
The government and the ruling party announced the government reorganization plan on the 7th. Its main points include abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and creating the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency; splitting the Ministry of Economy and Finance and reforming the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service; expanding and newly establishing the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment; abolishing the Korea Communications Commission; creating a deputy prime minister for science and technology; and abolishing the deputy prime minister for social affairs. The Democratic Party submitted a bill to amend the Government Organization Act to the National Assembly's Bill Office on the morning of the 12th.
Under the reorganization plan, the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the creation of the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency will take effect starting next September after a one-year grace period. The split of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the reform of the Financial Services Commission and the FSS will take effect on Jan. 2 next year. The rest were scheduled to take effect immediately on Oct. 1 if the amendment to the Government Organization Act passed the National Assembly at the end of this month. Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan also said at a press briefing on the 10th that "the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is expected to launch on Oct. 1."
However, as multiple voices within the ruling party call for pushing back the launch date of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the schedule is increasingly likely to change. The ministry would be created by moving the energy function currently under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to the Environment Ministry, which would require sweeping adjustments to the division of work among parliamentary standing committees.
The Trade. Industry Energy. SMEs. and Startups Committee must hand over the "resources" portfolio it has overseen to the Environment and Labor Committee. With preparations for the parliamentary audit and the formulation of the budget bill in full swing, handing this over within this month is realistically impossible.
A ruling party lawmaker said, "From the parliamentary audit to the budget and policy, many parts would be twisted, so tremendous confusion is expected," adding, "There are opinions to delay the launch of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and discussions are underway at the party level."
The party leadership is also said to agree with this proposal. The specific launch timing is reportedly under consideration for early November after the parliamentary audit is completed or, alternatively, early January next year.
A Democratic Party official explained, "Since dozens of agencies under each standing committee could change, we are reviewing a plan to proceed as before through the parliamentary audit and implement it afterward," adding, "It appears adjustments will be made during the Public Administration and Security Committee's review of the Government Organization Act."