Following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office, the transfer of presidential records produced during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration will be accelerated.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and others on the 6th, the Presidential Archives will begin to identify the status of records to be transferred by sequentially visiting the 'presidential records production institutions' starting as early as the 7th. The institutions targeted for this field inspection include 28 entities such as the Presidential Office, the National Security Office, and the Presidential Security Service, as well as advisory agencies like the Presidential Committee on Democracies and Peace.
As there are many targeted institutions, the Presidential Office and the National Security Office, which assist in presidential duties, are expected to be prioritized for inspections.
The 'Presidential Records Management Act' stipulates that when the presidency is vacant, the Presidential Archives must demand the prohibition of the movement or reclassification of presidential records from the production institutions and must conduct field inspections. Furthermore, the presidential records production institutions are required to identify and compile a list of records to be transferred immediately upon the vacancy of the presidency.
This field inspection is expected to examine whether these regulations regarding the transfer of presidential records are being properly followed. It is also reported that it will look into whether the electronic document system is being operated appropriately, whether paper documents are properly registered online, and whether the originals are being preserved without damage.
Previously, the Presidential Archives established a 'transfer promotion team' led by Director General Lee Dong-hyuk after President Yoon was removed from office on the 4th, and began practical discussions for the transfer with the presidential records production institutions. Additionally, they requested cooperation to ensure that the presidential records can be safely and promptly transferred before the next president's term begins and to prevent any unlawful situations such as unauthorized damage, concealment, loss, or removal.
However, a Ministry of the Interior and Safety official noted, 'The Presidential Archives plans to visit the presidential records production institutions next week; however, the specific schedule has not yet been finalized.'