The South Korean government has made an unusual direct promotion of an official involved in pivotal U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations to a director position.
On October 26, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy executed a significant reshuffling by promoting Kim Eui-jung, the head of the maritime and plant division, directly to a director role after his crucial involvement in the U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations. His key project, dubbed 'MASGA' (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again), was initiated as a strategic proposal during difficult trade talks, showcasing Korea’s readiness to collaborate on shipbuilding projects which the U.S. desperately needed. This initiative has garnered great interest from President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials, ultimately positioning Korea favorably in tariff discussions.
This promotion marks a break from standard civil service practices, as Kim ascended from a 4th-grade rank (junior official) to a 3rd-grade rank (senior official) without the customary intermediate step. This unorthodox decision has raised eyebrows and indicates a governmental shift towards rewarding talent and results over traditional bureaucratic advancement. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan announced through social media that he proposed Kim’s promotion directly to the president, underlining the rarity of this decision in the government’s history.
During the announcement, Minister Kim reaffirmed his commitment to creating an organizational culture in the Ministry that prioritizes performance and meritocracy over established norms. He emphasized three guiding principles for personnel decisions: suitable placement, clear rewards and penalties, and proactive selections. By endorsing such a framework, the Ministry aims to encourage a more results-driven environment that could potentially facilitate further successful negotiations and collaborations in various sectors.
