President Yoon Suk Yeol's active use of social media to announce policy ideas is causing stress among civil servants who are adapting to a rapidly changing decision-making process.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol has been utilizing social media platforms to share real-time policy ideas, significantly altering the traditional policy-making process that relied on a bottom-up approach of private reviews and stakeholder coordination. Instead, the new top-down approach emphasizes quick evaluations of ideas raised directly by the president. Recent policy discussions on sensitive issues, including sugar taxes and real estate taxes, are now being conducted openly on social media, where public opinion can be gauged rapidly, forcing central government officials to continuously monitor the president's updates throughout the day.
The shift brings a dual perspective within the government. On one hand, the transparency in policy formation is a notable advantage as it encourages public discussion and allows citizens to participate in the political discourse around policy-making. For instance, when President Yoon proposed raising a sugar tax to discourage usage and reinvest in public health, it led to a mixed public response reflecting concerns about health benefits versus the impact on lower-income families. One economic official noted that unlike previous administrations where poorly-received directives could lead to deflection of accountability, the current approach holds the president personally responsible for the policies being discussed, providing clarity in leadership.
Conversely, there are significant concerns regarding the quality of policy development, as officials fear that the rapid response required to engage with ideas presented on social media may compromise the thoroughness and consideration typically given to policy detail. One senior official likened the current process to “driving with the door open and without a seatbelt,” emphasizing the hasty nature of policy formulation in response to real-time social media postings. The adaptation of civil servants to this new environment is ongoing as they strive to keep pace with the president's quick-fire interactions and the immediate need for policy evaluations.
