Report: Civic Groups Influence Policy

It was reported that the reports from civic groups such as Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) and People Power 21 are materials that the prime minister’s office most often used as policy-making references.

This is a result of examinations that Lee Kei-kyung, lawmaker of the opposition Grand National Party made on the basis of the list of 284 policy recommendation reports and civic groups reports presented by Policy Affairs Office under Prime Minister Office as reference from May to July this year.

According to this examination, the number of People Power 21’s reports that were referred to by the prime minister’s office was 65, accounting for 22.9 percent and the CCEJ is 47, accounting for 16.5 percent. Two civic groups took a whopping almost 40 percent of total policy recommendation materials that were used by the Prime Minister Office during that period.

By counting the number of materials, Rep. Lee’s report provides evidence that the voice from civic groups, particularly from People Power 21, is the most influential reference that the current government uses to gear policy direction.

The People Power 21’s reports that were referred to by the Prime Minister Office are reports on relocation of the US bases, medical reform, interest limitation act, Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., pension reform, corporate governance structure, aging and low birth rate issue, reform of regulation, gambling business, and judicial reform.

Among private economic institutes, the Samsung Economic Research Institute placed first and its 44 reports were referred to by the prime minister’s office, accounting for 15.5 percent, which is followed by the Federation of Korean Industries with 34 reports (including reports from an affiliate, Korea Economic Institute), accounting for 12 percent, the Bank of Korea with 27 reports and Korea Development Institute with 21 reports.

Rep. Lee said, “It was proved that People Power 21 made significant influence to the current government major policies,” adding, “the current government should open its ears to the voice of more various groups of people in Korea.”

jkmas@donga.com