Yoon's Side: "Presidential Office 2 Offices 5 Senior Secretaries Finalizing... Significant Strengthening of Civil Society Senior Secretary" (Update)

Security Chief and Five Senior Secretary Appointments Likely Announced by Weekend
New National Proposal and Digital Communication Secretary Positions Expected in Civil Society Secretary Office

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) has virtually finalized the presidential office structure of '2 Offices and 5 Senior Secretaries' and is expected to announce appointments as early as this weekend. The Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Society will establish new positions for the Secretary for Public Proposals and the Secretary for Digital Communication, significantly enhancing its role.

On the 29th, Jang Je-won, Chief Secretary to the President-elect, met with reporters in front of the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "The presidential office structure is in the finalization stage," and added, "The main framework will be the 2 Offices and 5 Senior Secretaries." The two offices refer to the Chief Secretary and the Director of National Security Office, while the five senior secretaries are for Economy, Society, Political Affairs, Public Relations, and Civil Society.

Chief Secretary Jang said, "We plan to significantly strengthen the Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Society." He explained, "This department directly communicates with the public and explains policies extensively to the people. We will greatly enhance its functions to increase communication with various sectors such as veterans' organizations, healthcare, and local civic groups," adding, "Given the current legislative overreach by the Democratic Party of Korea, we believe there is a need for a department that better persuades the public."

The Transition Committee plans to appoint secretaries within the Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Society who can cover areas such as national integration, citizen communication, religion, and multiculturalism. Chief Secretary Jang stated, "It will include positions such as the Secretary for Public Proposals, who listens to civil complaints, and the Secretary for Digital Communication," and added, "While other areas will be considerably streamlined, the Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Society will be significantly strengthened."

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol is expected to announce appointments for the Director of the National Security Office and the five senior secretaries as early as the 1st of next month. Chief Secretary Jang said, "I plan to report to the President-elect tomorrow," and explained, "We will announce the senior secretaries first, followed by the appointments of the secretaries."

Meanwhile, regarding the proposal for a national referendum on the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutors' Investigative Authority' (Geomsu Wanbak), Chief Secretary Jang said, "The authority to submit a national referendum is a presidential power guaranteed by the Constitution, but it is currently controversial due to legislative deficiencies," and urged, "The National Assembly should promptly supplement the legislation."

He added, "If the Democratic Party, holding 180 seats, pushes through the bill, the president has no means to respond," and emphasized, "(A national referendum) is the minimum role to directly communicate with the people and ask for their will."

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