Next Blue House Spokesperson Likely to Be Kang Min-seok, Deputy Editor of JoongAng Ilbo

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] It was confirmed on the 31st that Kang Min-seok, the current deputy editor-in-chief of JoongAng Ilbo, is the leading candidate for the next Blue House spokesperson. If appointed, he will be the fourth spokesperson under the Moon Jae-in administration and the first from a conservative-leaning media outlet.

According to multiple Blue House officials on the 31st, the Blue House is conducting final verification processes with Deputy Editor Kang as the leading candidate for spokesperson. It is reported that Chief Presidential Secretary Noh Young-min strongly recommended him. The Blue House spokesperson position has been vacant for over two weeks since former spokesperson Ko Min-jung resigned on the 15th to run for the National Assembly election.

Deputy Editor Kang previously worked as a Blue House correspondent during the administration of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Since the launch of the Moon Jae-in government, he has been mentioned as a potential candidate whenever there was a spokesperson replacement. If Kang is appointed this time, he will be recorded as the third consecutive spokesperson from a journalism background following former spokespersons Kim Eui-gyeom and Ko Min-jung.

However, unlike the previous two, controversy is expected as this case involves a current journalist moving directly to the Blue House. Early last year, Yoon Do-han, formerly of MBC, who became the Senior Secretary for Public Communication, and Yeo Hyun-ho, formerly of The Hankyoreh newspaper, who became the Secretary for National Public Relations, also joined the Blue House immediately after leaving their media companies, which sparked criticism. At that time, President Moon Jae-in responded to related questions by saying, "We have no choice but to accept that criticism," but added, "I have criticized bringing current journalists into the Blue House to strengthen collusion between the press and power in the past, but I am confident that such collusion does not exist in this government."

Han Jung-woo, the current acting spokesperson, is likely to be promoted to the next Chunghwagwan chief or Secretary for National Archives. The Blue House had planned to announce such personnel changes as early as next week, but is currently adjusting the timing of the announcement while monitoring the situation in response to the recent spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.