[Editorial] Attention! Transition Team Comprised of 40-something Professors

A transition committee, which will draw a draft for the new government’s national management plan, will be launched today. This presidential transition committee is drawing attention in three points. First, this team is the first decision made by president-elect Roh Moo-hyun in personnel affairs. Second, the team consists of reform-minded young academics. Third, Mr. Roh said that they would continue to work as advisors for state affairs during his five-year term of office.

First of all, Mr. Roh’s decision is worth praise in that there were not any rewarding or concentration on specific areas of origin. He almost exempted politicians in forming the team for take-over and showed his willingness for political reform by appointing a lot of fresh figures. And that he appointed only directors of subcommittees and leave the rest personnel matters to those directors also arouse people’s interest.

However, in some aspects, his decision is worrisome. It is noted that though the directors are all filled with visions and enthusiasm, they are lacking in hands-on experience in administration. There are worries that they could prepare impracticable policies estranged from the real world. For the lineup of Mr. Roh’s transition committee is totally different from that of the past successive presidents. The team is even called "a 40-something professors’ transition team."

Some political analysts say that close connection with political circles for policy enforcement and cooperation with government offices will be difficult. Those directors in the transition team, who Mr. Roh said had the same kind of political philosophy with him, and therefore are highly likely to be appointed to important posts in a new government, could arise conflicts in the process of pursuing their public career.

In the light of Roh’s plan on "reform-minded president and stability-oriented prime minister," those members of the transition team are expected to be at the front of political reform. Therefore, a challenge is that they should be in harmony with the existing public establishment, which plays a role for political stability. In addition, the President-elect should prepare countermeasures to minimize side effects that could arise from such a two-fold government structure.

For its part, the transition team should listen to people’s opinions and take a close review of feasibility of its policy in order to clear up anxiety and fears over its amateurism. Most of all, the team should strike a balance to push for reform on a stable basis.