Hanguk Saneopinryeok Gongdan launches innovation oversight committee for 2026 work

Hanguk Saneopinryeok Gongdan (HRDK) on Friday launched the HRDK National Growth Promotion Committee to review its 2026 innovation projects, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, seeking more objective oversight and stronger execution.

HRDK's Innovation Promotion Team will identify and implement tasks, while the committee, made up of external and internal experts, will assess performance and feed its conclusions into the agency's operations. The two-track arrangement is designed to incorporate external scrutiny into management innovation.

The panel has external and internal co-chairs and includes six external specialists with an understanding of the public sector, including academia, government and labor unions, as well as three internal members. HRDK said this structure should combine an objective perspective with operational experience so reviews can be applied effectively in the field.

It will meet every two weeks to examine flagship innovation work and plans a comprehensive assessment of 2026 innovation-task results in October.

At the inaugural meeting, members discussed a cooperative framework for delivering innovation projects and shared the committee's operating direction and future plans. They also evaluated and selected HRDK's flagship innovation tasks for 2026.

Committee members will build the review framework from analysis and diagnosis of HRDK's 2025 management performance, which the agency said will allow systematic monitoring of flagship initiatives.

HRDK supports vocational skills development at small and midsize companies, runs national qualification examinations and supplies foreign workers. The agency plans to create results the public can tangibly feel.

Lee Byung-hoon, HRDK's chairman, said he expected the committee to be "a catalyst driving innovation and growth."