Presidential Security Service Produces First 'Public Recruitment' Chief... President Moon Awards Appointment Letter

Yoo Yeon-sang, Chief of the Presidential Security Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sunhee] On the afternoon of the 19th, President Moon Jae-in unusually opened the appointment ceremony of Yoo Yeonsang, the new Chief of the Presidential Security Service (54), to the media at the Blue House. This is a gesture of encouragement for the fact that the Presidential Security Service has produced its first chief from an open recruitment in 32 years.

Yoo, a native of Gochang High School in Jeonbuk and a graduate of Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration, was appointed in 1992 as part of the 3rd open recruitment class of the Security Service. He served as Head of the Security Headquarters, Auditor, and Head of the Security and Safety Headquarters, rising to the position of chief after 28 years.

In the past, the Presidential Security Service only recruited through limited competition for special groups such as military personnel and police officers. However, during the Roh Tae-woo administration in 1988, the eligibility was expanded to include civilians for the first time, selecting the 1st open recruitment class, and has since conducted open recruitments every two years. During the democratization period, the open recruitment culture naturally took root, and Chief Yoo is the first organizational head to come from an open recruitment background. He is also highly regarded within the organization.

Kang Minseok, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated, "Chief Yoo is recognized for solidly implementing the Moon Jae-in administration’s 'friendly security, open security, and low-profile security,' raising the level of presidential security to a new height," adding, "He is expected to contribute to internal organizational innovation and the establishment of new security systems and security culture in response to environmental changes going forward."

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