Yoon appoints 5 senior secretaries, 1 top security adviser

May 02, 2022, 08:53 am

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Chang Je-won, who is serving as Yoon’s chief of staff during the transition period, and Kim Dae-ki, who has been tapped as Yoon’s first chief of staff in the incoming office, announce the list of Yoon’s top aides in a press conference in Seoul on May 1, 2022. / Source: National Assembly Press Corps

AsiaToday reporter Lee Yoo-jin

While the current President Moon Jae-in had eight senior secretaries and three offices under him, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol reduced them to five secretaries and had two offices – chief of staff and the national security offices. Political observers say Yoon reduced the number of offices to express his will to ‘run government centered on the cabinet’ while strengthening the role of the national security office.

Chang Je-won, Yoon’s chief of staff during the transition period, announced the list of all five senior presidential secretaries and other members of the presidential office during a press conference on Sunday. As expected, the chief policy officer role and those of three secretaries for civil affairs, jobs and personal affairs have been abolished.

“So far, Cheong Wa Dae has been taking control of the overall administration, limiting the government’s role as executing Cheong Wa Dae’s orders,” Chang said. “So we decided to have a slimmer presidential office to enable the administration to be more creative and innovative in policymaking. The office will focus on coordinating their work.”

Yoon appointed Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University and former vice foreign minister, as the chief of the national security office. Sungkyunkwan University professor Kim Tae-hyo was named as first deputy director of national security, while Shin In-ho, a former Army major general, was nominated as the second deputy director. Kim Yong-hyun, former operation director at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will serve as head of the presidential security service.

Former lawmaker Lee Jin-bok was named senior political secretary, while former lawmaker Kang Seung-kyoo was chosen for senior civil society secretary. Former editor-in-chief of broadcaster SBS Choi Young-bum was nominated as senior secretary for public relations while former Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok was named as senior secretary for economic affairs. Ahn Sang-hoon, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University, was tapped as senior secretary for society. Chosun Ilbo newspaper former deputy managing editor Kang In-sun will become Yoon’s first spokesperson.

Compared to the current presidential office with three offices and eight senior secretaries, the new presidential office will be reorganized to two offices and five secretaries. Yoon’s administration will have secretary and national security offices as well as economic, social political, public relations and civil society secretaries. Yoon abolished the post of secretaries for civil affairs, jobs and personnel affairs.

On the replacement of the abolished senior civil affairs role, Chang said, “The police and the Ministry of Justice and other diversified channels will take part in verification work. In the case of discipline issues within Cheong Wa Dae, a public service secretary in charge of discipline will be appointed to carry out the duties, and a legal secretary will be appointed to provide legal advice to the president.”

The new national security office will consist of 1 chief, 2 deputy chiefs, 6 secretaries and one center head. Three public-private joint committees under the direct control of the president will be established as well.

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