Yoon promises to consider personnel reshuffle if problems found

Oct 23, 2024, 03:51 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon of the ruling People Power Party hold a meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2024./ Photo provided by Yoon’s office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol has said he would consider appropriate measures if ruling party Han Dong-hoon tells him “who is causing what problems,” an official said on Tuesday.

Yoon made the remark during a meeting with Han of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Monday, where Han reportedly mentioned the names of eight officials in the presidential office who inappropriately meddled in state affairs and urged a personnel reshuffle to assuage controversies that first lady Kim Keon-hee has a coterie of officials influencing state affairs.

Yoon’s remarks indicate that he needs evidence to determine whether to take actions. “A personnel reshuffle is my job. Han knows that I’m the one who carried out a personnel shake-up if there’s a problem,” Yoon was quoted as saying by a senior presidential official Tuesday.

“There is only a presidential line in the presidential office,” the official said.

Regarding the request for the first lady to reduce her public engagements, Yoon explained that Kim is “exhausted” and is already scaling back her activities.

“She is already refraining from external activities. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, she won’t engage in many external activities,” Yoon was quoted as saying.

On the issue of cooperating with investigations into the allegations involving the first lady, Yoon said, “The prosecution investigations are already underway over some allegations. If there are suspicions, please do not vaguely talk about them and bring them in detail.”

However, he reportedly said that the investigation of the suspicions should have objective charges or evidence, not simply raising suspicions.

Mentioning the president’s mother-in-law, he reportedly indicated that if there are objective allegations, the family would also be investigated and face consequences.

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