Government Complex Sejong. Yonhap News 

Guest Columnist, Korea Military Academy Class of '80A nation's public service system is an invisible infrastructure. Deeper than roads, buildings, weapons, and budgets, the structures that uphold a nation are fair personnel appointments, a stable organizational culture, and a trustworthy administrative system. However, recent incidents such as mobile phone surveillance in the public service and the "lining up" and "taking sides" phenomena exposed within the military are not only fracturing national consensus but also undermining the nation's identity and spiritual foundation. 

The questions posed to generals during the recent appointment process, asking for political and legal judgments such as 'Was martial law an act of rebellion?', are a "loyalty test" designed to confirm the internalization of the mindset desired by the administration, deviating from the military's core duties. This is a truly childish deviation and a recurring pathological phenomenon that shakes the military's political neutrality and the foundation of trust in national security. Consequently, the recent large-scale general appointments are perceived as political purges, carrying the character of "accountability for martial law."

1. Politicization of the Military: Beyond Organizational Deviation, an Act of National Destruction

While personnel changes appear as administrative procedures from the outside, within the organization, they become a form of ideological screening, leading to ideological alignment in the field. If talented individuals are excluded by framing them as "people from the previous administration," the organization depletes accumulated wisdom and strength, and the nation as a whole loses irreplaceable human resources. This is akin to burning down a thatched cottage to catch a single flea. 

The military is the people's army, not the administration's army. National security cannot be divided by political parties, and defense cannot be a tool for political contention. The moment this structure collapses, the military becomes a shield for politics, not a shield for the nation. In times of crisis, the military will prioritize political and administrative interpretations over pure operational judgments. 

Despite detecting enemy attack signs, the complex rules of engagement, including five stages and the prohibition of pre-emptive strikes, led to the deaths of six naval personnel and injuries to 18 aboard the Chamsuri 357 during the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong. 

2. The Side Effects of "Lining Up" and "Taking Sides" Fall on the People

"Lining up" and "taking sides" divide a nation in half. The moment military leadership and public officials align with factions rather than the entire populace, the government no longer serves all citizens. It becomes preoccupied with prioritizing supporters and specific regions, and administrative bodies develop a keen sense for discerning the administration's intentions. Loyalty to one's faction, rather than competence, and factional affiliation, rather than expertise, become the criteria for appointments. 

"Lining up" and "taking sides" dismantle professionalism. Public organizations operate based on laws and regulations over extended periods. National defense reform, administrative reform, and economic policies all depend on continuity and consistency. However, when the power of appointment is politicized, the lifespan of policies is shortened to the lifespan of the administration. The moment factional loyalty, not competence, becomes the evaluation criterion, public officials lose creativity and initiative, leading to passive, delayed administration, defensive avoidance of responsibility, and administration that prioritizes the convenience of public officials and dereliction of duty. 

The practices of "lining up" and "taking sides" result in "upside-down administration" that conforms to the administration's preferences. The Moon Jae-in administration's "income-led growth," "nuclear power plant suspension measures," and the "September 19th Military Agreement" are prime examples of upside-down administration that ran counter to public livelihood and national interest. Senior public officials, fearing political misinterpretations, avoid new initiatives and cling to regulations to escape responsibility. Ultimately, the damage is borne by the citizens who do not receive adequate administrative services.

3. How to Break the Vicious Cycle of "Upside-Down Administration" Through "Lining Up"? 

The game of "heaven and earth," where victory and defeat are determined by dividing into sides, resembles the political act of lining up. The game of "rock-paper-scissors," where a mediator intervenes to stop conflicts, making neither side significant, resembles the principles and tenets of political neutrality. Just as paper intervenes to moderate the conflict between rock and scissors, public officials' and soldiers' professional stability should be protected by administrative decrees ensuring political neutrality. 

Legislative alternatives must be devised to maintain the political neutrality of public officials guaranteed by the Constitution while expanding their fundamental rights. Respect for the freedom of expression and conscience of all public officials should be upheld, their responsible duties enhanced, and measures to allow them to freely apply their talents for the nation's benefit should be researched and considered. 

The appointment of military leadership and senior public officials must shift from a political-centered approach to one based on appointment criteria to ensure fairness. An AI-based system for reviewing promotions and appointments of senior public officials should be concretely considered. The national system does not belong to a specific faction; it belongs to all citizens. Therefore, those in power must possess the political courage to protect and prioritize the people over short-term supporters and foreign interests, and to safeguard talented individuals. 

We must break the vicious cycle of "lining up" in public service that collapses the nation's foundation by demanding only factional loyalty. In a magnanimous spirit, an AI-based appointment system for senior public officials, free from personal ambition and artificial political interference, should be examined to ensure the stability and neutrality of public service. The government is merely an organization that executes temporary national administration. The government should regain the fundamental principle and reason that the nation belongs to the people. 

Park Pil-kyu, Guest Columnist