Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yoonchul Marks First Anniversary: “More Promotion Opportunities at Ministry of Finance and Economy in Second Half”

Communication Event with Employees and Families Held on the 20th
Town Hall Meeting and Children's Family Invitation Event
"Let’s Work Together to Achieve the 3-4-5 Vision"

The Ministry of Finance and Economy announced on the 21st that it held a special three-theme communication event on the 20th for ministry employees and their families to facilitate open communication and harmony, marking the first anniversary of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Koo Yoon-chul's inauguration.

This event was organized to reflect on the past year, listen candidly to the voices of organization members, and express gratitude. The program consisted of: ① a 'Three Flavors' town hall meeting utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) program developed by employees, ② an official tea gathering with the labor union branch leader, and ③ a family invitation event for children.

Koo Yooncheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, is answering employees' questions during a town hall meeting with staff at the Ministry on the afternoon of the 20th at the Government Complex Sejong, marking his first anniversary in office. Ministry of Strategy and Finance

Employees' Honest Thoughts Translated by AI: 'Three Flavors' Town Hall Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister Koo held the 'Three Flavors' town hall meeting with about 190 employees in the main auditorium of the Civil Affairs Wing. The event was prepared with strong support from the in-house AI learning club, 'AX Jiphyeonjeon 2.0.' Breaking from conventional formats, the meeting was run using a communication program developed directly by employees with AI tools.

The main event, the 'Spicy Flavor' session, featured employees’ candid questions about HR, welfare, and the work environment—issues often difficult to discuss face-to-face. These were translated in real-time by AI and displayed on a screen, followed by Deputy Prime Minister Koo’s on-the-spot answers.

Deputy Prime Minister Koo drew positive responses from employees by frankly sharing his thoughts and determination on sensitive topics such as promotions in the second half of the year, increased opportunities for overseas training, improvement of employee welfare facilities, and upgrading the IT environment.

At the end of the town hall meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Koo stated, "I will strive to make the Ministry of Finance and Economy a workplace employees look forward to, and I ask you to continue sharing your ideas at any time," pledging to closely monitor follow-up tasks.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yoon-chul responded to employees' questions during a town hall meeting with ministry staff at the Government Sejong Complex, marking his first anniversary in office. Ministry of Finance and Economy

First Official Tea Meeting with Branch Leader Jeong Wanjun

Immediately following the town hall, Deputy Prime Minister Koo held his first official tea meeting with Jeong Wanjun, who is in his fourth month as the head of the Ministry of Finance and Economy branch of the National Government Employees' Labor Union. This first official encounter with the new branch leader was attended by the policy chief and key personnel and operations directors, fostering in-depth discussions on labor-management cooperation.

Branch leader Jeong directly raised challenges and welfare issues faced by union members in the field. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Koo emphasized, "The labor union is a partner in advancing the ministry and enhancing employee happiness," and agreed to strengthen mutual communication going forward, including by sharing information regarding the retreat scheduled for September.

Children’s Invitation Event: All Members of the ‘Ministry Family’ Become the Main Characters

In the late afternoon, a "Children’s Invitation Event" was held in the Government Complex, attended by 35 families and 115 participants (including 53 children), comprising employees, environmental staff, and the families of press members. Notably, families of environmental staff—who have quietly contributed to keeping the premises safe and clean—were specially invited to the event. The Deputy Prime Minister personally expressed heartfelt gratitude to such dedicated staff, adding special meaning to the gathering.

The invited children wore honorary civil servant badges, visited Deputy Prime Minister Koo’s office to receive gifts directly from him, and took commemorative photos together. The second part of the event consisted of interactive programs, including making keyrings, face painting, balloon art, photo booth sessions, and a cotton candy magic show. The event concluded with children visiting their parents’ actual offices, creating a memorable and meaningful experience.

During the event, Deputy Prime Minister Koo listened to suggestions from families and pledged to do his utmost to ensure employees can balance work and family life. He especially highlighted, "As the summer break begins in a few days, the ministry's leadership will take the initiative in encouraging employees to enjoy sufficient and pleasant time off with their families during the summer vacation period."

Lastly, Deputy Prime Minister Koo emphasized that the opportunity for an economic rebound over the past year was made possible by the dedication and efforts of all staff members at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

He called on everyone to continue giving their best to achieve the goals outlined in the '2026 Second Half Economic Growth Strategy'—namely, the 3·4·5 vision: attaining a potential growth rate of 3%, becoming one of the world’s top four exporters, and reaching a national income of $50,000—so that Korea becomes a truly irreplaceable nation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.