[Exclusive] Woo Yoon-geun to be dispatched as Russian Presidential Envoy this month... Considering Blue House Chief of Staff position

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Woo Yoon-geun, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation (photo, 63), who has been consistently mentioned as a candidate for the next Chief of the Presidential Secretariat, will visit Russia this month as a special presidential envoy.

According to the Blue House on the 7th, Ambassador Woo is expected to visit Russia around mid-month to engage with high-ranking officials of the Russian government to promote Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Korea next year. Initially, the government had been pushing for President Vladimir Putin's visit to mark the 30th anniversary of Korea-Russia diplomatic relations this year, but due to the COVID-19 situation, the visit within this year was effectively canceled. Consequently, the 'Year of Korea-Russia Mutual Exchange' has been extended through next year.

This move by former Ambassador Woo somewhat differs from his previous stance of distancing himself from politics after announcing he would not run in the 21st National Assembly election last April. Regardless of his own wishes, Woo has been consistently mentioned in political circles as a candidate for the next Chief of the Presidential Secretariat.

After completing his special envoy duties in Russia and returning to Korea, Woo is expected to visit the Blue House to report to President Moon following a self-quarantine period. This is anticipated to happen as early as the end of this month or by early next month at the latest. At this meeting, there is also a possibility that President Moon will directly offer Woo the position of Chief of the Secretariat.

President Moon Jae-in is toasting with Ambassador Woo Yoon-geun at the 2018 Overseas Diplomatic Mission Chiefs Dinner. <이미지:Yonhap News>

According to multiple Blue House officials, despite numerous rumors about potential candidates for the next Chief of the Secretariat, including former Democratic Research Institute Director Yang Jeong-cheol and Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung, President Moon has never publicly mentioned any specific individual. One aide said, "Unless the President directly mentions someone, the rumors have no meaning," adding, "When the time comes, naturally there will be various opinions around, but the Chief of the Presidential Secretariat is a matter decided solely by the President."

However, Woo's side has expressed to those around him that he will not continue political activities due to family opposition. Some within the ruling party speculate that Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, persuaded Woo's wife, with whom she has a close relationship.

The Blue House strongly denied this. Jung Man-ho, Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Communication, stated, "Reports that Mrs. Kim met Woo's wife to persuade her to take on the Chief of the Secretariat position are completely untrue."

Meanwhile, current Chief of the Presidential Secretariat Noh Young-min is expected to become the longest-serving chief by completing two full years in office on January 8 next year.

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