Gov`t`s inconsistency caused distrust

The government invited public distrust due to its inconsistent policies, a private advisory group for the prime minister evaluated Wednesday.

The Policy Evaluation Committee, chaired by lawyer Lee Se-Jung, said that the government failed to secure transparency and fairness in the course of pushing forward with reform programs during the first half of the year.

The government also adopted sporadic follow up measures to the South-North Korean summit meeting and could not establish a long-term system for the development of publicity and education to reflect changes in inter-Korean relations, the committee said Wednesday.

In particular, the committee judged that the government lacks the ability to control state affairs comprehensively.

The committee and the Office of Government Policy Coordination at the Prime Minister`s Office held a report session to evaluate the administration`s affairs during the first half of 2000.

In the session, presided over by Prime Minister Lee Han-dong, the committee and the office report called for the correction of these administrative blunders.

The committee and the office began an evaluation of 62 major policy programs of 39 government agencies in March to formulate the report.

The report, however, gave the government excellent marks for the inter-Korean summit and the June 15 Joint Declaration, continued economic growth and stability, the construction of an infrastructure for an information society and the establishment of systematic frames for productive welfare.

But the Cabinet`s efforts to responsibly cope with pending issues was lacking and it failed to establish law and order, according to the report.

The government also was unable to efficiently complete restructuring programs in the economic and public sectors, and as a result the people could not sympathize with achievements in reform, the report added.