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Jun Ye-hyun, the newly appointed deputy presidential spokesperson.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has appointed Jun Ye-hyun, 51, chair of the Democratic Party's Donghae-Taebaek-Samcheok-Jeongseon regional committee, as deputy presidential spokesperson.

According to a source within the ruling bloc on Tuesday, Jun is expected to begin working at Cheong Wa Dae as deputy spokesperson on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Born in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Jun graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a degree in English education and began her journalism career at the daily newspaper Naeil Shinmun. She later served as president of the Korea Women's Training Institute, head of the Seoul Office of the Gangwon Provincial Government, an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Finance Policy at Woosuk University's Graduate School, and a board member of the Yulgok Institute in Gangneung.

Jun also served as a special adviser to Lee Han-joo, chairman of the Presidential State Planning Commission, which effectively acted as the presidential transition committee for the Lee Jae Myung administration last year.

Until recently, she served as chair of the Democratic Party's Donghae-Taebaek-Samcheok-Jeongseon regional committee, working on local issues such as attracting corporate investment and creating jobs for young people.

Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae has accelerated the reshuffling of its second-term presidential staff following the resignation of Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik last month.

Lim Kwang-hyun was appointed as the new chief of staff to succeed Kang, while Ha Joon-kyung, previously senior presidential secretary for economic growth, was promoted to fill the position of presidential chief of policy, which had remained vacant for about a month following the resignation of Kim Yong-beom. Moon Shin-hak, vice minister of trade, industry and energy, was subsequently appointed senior presidential secretary for economic growth.

Last week, former two-term lawmaker Choi In-ho, who represented a constituency in Busan, was appointed senior presidential secretary for political affairs, succeeding Hong Ihk-pyo. Kim Tae-geun, presidential secretary for local autonomy and development, also moved to the position of head of the Presidential Office's State Affairs Situation Room following the resignation of Kim Jung-woo.

Earlier this month, Lee Ji-soo, a former executive at Samsung Electronics, was appointed presidential secretary for national AI policy, succeeding Kim Woo-chang.

Further appointments at the presidential secretary level, including the positions responsible for local autonomy and development, gender equality and family affairs, and digital communications, are also expected soon.

                                                                                                              Hong Sun-mi