Ahead of the reorganization of the new government, a war of nerves between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who are trying to take over trade, is heating up.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively explained the necessity of the trade function by requesting an unscheduled back briefing (anonymous premise briefing) today (29th) by a high-ranking official, while also sending a check message to the Ministry of Industry.
Recently, it seems that he felt a sense of crisis when information favorable to the Ministry of Industry was highlighted in the media through the recent events held by the Korea International Trade Association under the influence of the Ministry of Industry and the Korea Federation of Industries Forum survey with a former vice minister of industry as chairman.
The senior official claimed that "many of these articles are unfounded or based on false facts," particularly in recent articles about the ministry's need to maintain commerce.
In response to former Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Jung-kyung's argument for the preservation of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, "In the 75 years after the establishment of the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only been in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 15 years," he said, "The period in which the trade function did not belong to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was only 9 years. ' he countered.
The explanation is that they have continued to work in trade, except for the Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in governments, which have their trade negotiation headquarters in the Ministry of Industry.
Regarding the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's argument that 'You need to know the industry well to do business well,' this high-ranking official said, "The most basic function of trade is to reconcile the interests between ministries. Do you think you can adjust it?" he pointed out.
When pointed out that the controversy surrounding the transfer of trade negotiating functions is not a 'rice bowl fight' between ministries, he indirectly criticized the Ministry of Industry, saying, "The ministry in Sejong, which competes with us, may see this as a rice bowl fight."
“But we are not negotiating to bring in such an organization,” he said.
He continued, "It is very difficult because there has been no business in the past 9 years. We are very desperate." He said, "There are too many tasks that we cannot do as the government organization law shifts trade and trade negotiations (to the Ministry of Industry), and our arms and legs are tied. It's a situation where you have to race under the circumstances," he complained.
This high-ranking official said, "Business and diplomacy are glued together and cannot be separated. As a result, it should be arranged at this opportunity even to correct the undesirable phenomenon of always fighting over work areas."
He also said that those in charge of trade were alienated from the Ministry of Industry.
This high-ranking official said, "I want you to see why one side keeps neglecting (normal) and suddenly treats them as prisoners when they hear about reorganization, and why many elite employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs flock to do this job when they are in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." claimed.