President Yoon Seok-yul speaks during the "Emergency Economic and Security Meeting on the Middle East Crisis" at the Yongsan Office of the President in Seoul on Thursday. Courtesy of the presidential office

President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering personnel reform in the cabinet and the presidential office to deal with the crushing defeat in the general election. The reorganization of the cabinet and the presidential office is a key measure to reflect on the failure of state administration and reveal the sincerity of the change in tone. However, it is highly doubtful whether the president will be able to respond to the public's demand for a comprehensive overhaul in state affairs, looking at the faces of people who are mentioned to replace the seats.

The personnel reshuffle was expected to take place immediately after the general election. Given the unprecedented public sentiment expressed in the result of the election, the move should be swift. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Kwan-seop, and Senior Secretary for Policy Sung Tae-yoon announced their resignations on April 11, the day after the general election. However, a swift reshuffle seems unlikely, given the situation that there were rumors about the nomination of a new chief of staff but they disappeared suddenly.

There is no disagreement that the personnel chaos that the Yoon Suk Yeol government has shown over the past two years has had a profound impact on the weakening of the administration's foundation. It was a series of personnel appointments that disappointed the public by filling former prosecutors and presidential acquaintances in key positions, while saying that ability was the most important thing in his appointments. The question of how talented people can only be around the president was expressed in the decline of his approval ratings. Relying on a narrow pool of talent, the results of the personnel appointments was not good each time. Inexplicable appointments, such as "three-month minister" and "six-month vice minister," were also repeated. It is no exaggeration to say that the reshuffle revealed the incompetence and irresponsibility of the Yoon administration, which is why the upcoming reshuffle is drawing attention as a barometer of reform. Qualitative and quantitative changes are inevitable to completely reorganize the government.

However, it is disappointing to see the figures on the appointment list. Lawmakers Kwon Young-se and Joo Ho-young, Kim Han-gil, and former Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Joong-kyung are being considered for prime minister, while former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Won Hee-ryong, lawmakers Chung Jin-seok and Jang Je-won, Kim Han-gil, and Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min are being considered for chief of staff. All of them are close to Yoon or have served in the current government. It is laughable that former minister Won Hee-ryong, who was involved in the controversy over the change of the end point of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway and its abolition and re-promotion, or Minister Lee Sang-min, who consistently ignored the Itaewon stampede disaster are being mentioned.

Yoon should come up with sincere measures, starting with personnel reshuffling. He should start by recognizing that the country is in a desperate state of emergency, and that the repetition of appointments with the same figures who disappointed the public is no longer acceptable. Prior to the reshuffle, the president should hold a press conference to apologize to the people for the turmoil in state affairs over the past two years and to express his determination to engage in state affairs anew. If he plans to use a wide range of talents, he should also actively consider offering the opposition to cooperate with him, including the formation of a national cabinet.