Yoon to reshuffle presidential office

Aug 19, 2022, 08:46 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol responds to reporters’ questions as he arrives at the presidential office in Seoul on Aug. 18, 2022./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Kim Na-ri

President Yoon Suk-yeol will carry out a restructuring of his presidential office to regain the public’s trust of his administration. The presidential office will create a new senior secretary position for policy planning, and replace its public relations chief.

During a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan on Thursday, presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki announced that a new position of a senior secretary on policy planning will be created. “Because there have been communication problems in the policy agenda area, we believe there is a need for smooth communication and understanding between the people, the Cabinet and the presidential office,” Kim said.

Regarding speculation that Korea International Trade Association Vice Chairman Lee Kwan-sup will take the position as a senior secretary on policy planning, the senior official said Lee is one of the leading candidates. “We are in the process of restructuring the organization and looking for talented personnel,” he said. A senior secretary on policy planning is expected to be in charge of coordinating various policies proposed by different senior secretaries.

The presidential office, however, denied reports of its further expansion. “It has not been confirmed. We will first create a new senior secretary position for policy planning,” Kim said.

The presidential office has decided to replace the senior presidential secretary for public relations. An announcement will be made Sunday. Local media have reported that former Rep. Kim Eun-hye of the ruling People Power Party, who had served as a spokesperson of by-then President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol at the presidential transition committee, is likely to replace Choi Young-bum as the senior public relations secretary.

“The presidential office will be run as a living organism. There are areas that need to be expanded and reduced. We will reorganize the office whenever necessary,” Kim said.

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