Seoul: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on November 11 announced the formation of a task force titled "Government Innovation for Constitutional Integrity" aimed at investigating civil servants involved in the December 3 martial law attempt. The move, supported by President Lee Jae Myung, is intended to ensure "appropriate personnel actions" following internal investigations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the initiative has caused unrest across various government ministries and agencies, as it suggests a comprehensive personnel overhaul. Prime Minister Kim stated that each ministry and agency would establish its own task force, complete investigations by January, and implement necessary actions before the Lunar New Year on February 17. The presidential office and the ruling Democratic Party had already agreed on the plan, with Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik expressing openness to forming a related organization if needed during a parliamentary audit on November 6.
Holding officials accountable is crucial, yet the simultaneous investigations by the presidential office, government, and ruling party during a special investigation raise concerns. The situation is reminiscent of the Moon Jae-in administration's "eradication of deep-rooted evils" campaign, which aimed to reform corruption but ended up causing political retribution and fatigue, dividing the nation and leading to a government change.
The new task force faces uncertainty regarding the execution of "swift and fair" investigations and disciplinary measures. Prime Minister Kim mentioned instances such as police blocking access to the National Assembly and officials defending the martial law in official memos as collaboration examples. However, questions remain on how investigators will identify involved individuals and determine promotion exclusions.
Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party criticized the plan on social media, describing it as a "martial law purge" harsher than previous anti-corruption efforts. She warned that administrative neutrality could vanish, dissenters may be labeled as rebels, and loyalty tests could dominate the bureaucracy. Analysts suspect the government might be using the martial law issue to distract from criticism over prosecutors dropping their appeal in the Daejang-dong corruption case.
Prime Minister Kim, who will lead the initiative, should consider these concerns. Without restraint and transparency, the task force risks becoming a political cleansing campaign, rather than a genuine effort to uphold the Constitution and reform governance.