President Lee to hold 2nd round of ministry work reports starting Jan. 15; 'Citizen observers to be recruited'

President Lee Jae-myung is set to preside over a second series of ministry work reports, commencing January 15 and running through January 21. This initiative will focus on key public institutions and aims to meticulously review the progress made on directives issued during the initial round of ministry briefings held late last year. The president's office announced the schedule, emphasizing a commitment to transparency and accountability.

The upcoming reports will encompass a broad spectrum of government operations, covering 19 ministries, six departments, 18 agencies, and seven committees, along with approximately 140 public institutions involved in livelihood projects. Discussions are expected to delve deeply into reform tasks, including structural reforms, initiatives for locally-led growth, and efforts toward national normalization.

A significant departure from previous formats, this round of work reports will feature the participation of roughly 200 citizens. These individuals will serve as observers, offering a direct window into the government's activities for the public. The presidential office highlighted this as a novel approach to citizen engagement, aiming to embody the philosophy of a "sovereign's government" by having citizens directly receive reports and pose questions.

President Lee himself took to Facebook to express his anticipation for the citizen observers. He described the upcoming sessions as an opportunity to confirm policy outcomes and discuss future national governance directions with the public. "Everything the government does is ultimately for the better lives of the people," Lee wrote, underscoring that citizens are both the starting point and the endpoint of all policy-making. He pledged to use public voices as a benchmark and to collaboratively seek solutions.

Interested citizens can apply for participation through platforms like Naver Forms, with applications open from January 1st at 9 a.m. until January 6th at 12 p.m. This initiative signals a strong push towards a more inclusive and responsive governance model, directly involving the populace in the assessment and direction of public administration.