Yoon to abolish civil secretary office

Mar 15, 2022, 08:44 am

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President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at his meeting with transition committee members at his office in Seoul on March 14, 2022./ Source: Pool photo

AsiaToday reporter Lee Yoo-jin

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday he will abolish the post of senior secretary for civil affairs at his presidential office to liquidate the “imperial presidential system.” He also named two veteran politicians – former head of the Democratic Party Kim Han-gil and former interim head of the Liberty Korea Party Kim Byong-joon - as chiefs of special transition committee panels on national unity and balanced regional development, respectively. This is the first step toward national unity, which Yoon has been emphasizing so far, raising expectation that his expansion of boundaries and the idea of a unified government would gain power.

Yoon announced the decision during a meeting with Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential transition committee chairman, Rep. Kwon Young-se, the vice chairman, and Won Hee-ryong, chief of the planning committee.

Regarding the abolition of the office of civil affairs secretary, Yoon said he would thoroughly exclude the functions of inspection and information investigation from the work of the presidential office.

“The office of senior secretary for civil affairs has been often used to control opposition political forces and to conduct secret investigations into civilians in the name of examining their credentials and reputations. I will end such outdated practices,” Yoon said. “The presidential office that I pursue is only focused on working for the people, and managing and finding policies as a capable government.”

“The remark reflects the president-elect’s intention to focus solely on national security and the people’s livelihood in accordance with the powers stipulated by the Constitution and laws,” Yoon’s spokesperson Kim Eun-hye said. Abolishing the office of civil affairs secretary reflects the president-elect’s willingness to cut the loop of illegal information gathering while not engaging in political retaliation.

Yoon also announced that Kim Han-gil will head the national unity committee and that Kim Byong-joon will lead the balanced development panel.

“Kim Han-gil is a person who can address all generations and bring national unity. As for Kim Byung-joon, I believe he would be able to draw up the big picture for balanced growth of regions, with his expertise in decentralization,” Yoon said. “All state affairs are ultimately for the sake of national integration. I will make a competent government.”

Kim Han-gil, the former head of the Democratic Party and the former chief of the Saesidae Preparation Committee formed under Yoon’s first presidential campaign team, is known to have actively scouted people from the Democratic Party as well as moderate and progressive figures. Kim Byong-joon is expected to play a role in balanced regional development based on his experience in planning the administrative capitalization of Sejong City under previous liberal administration of Roh Moo-hyun.

Yoon’s transition committee aims to hold a signboard hanging ceremony as early as late this week and no later than early next week to mark its official launch.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #civil secretary office