Democratic Party Criticizes Yoon Presidential Office Appointments as Biased, Concentrated, and Outdated

"Yoon Seok-yeol's First Secretary Office Appoints Figures Trying to Avoid Parliamentary Confirmation Hearings"
"Deservedly Criticized as a 'Heaven for Fugitives'... Lacks Generational Diversity"
"Inappropriate Appointments to Be Questioned at the National Assembly's Steering Committee"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the personnel appointments of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's '2 Offices (Secretariat Office and National Security Office) and 5 Chiefs (Economic, Social, Political, Public Relations, Civil Society)' announced on the 1st, calling it a "secretariat office that goes against national unity, lacks diversity significantly, and is biased, one-sided, and anachronistic, aiming to revive wrong policies."

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to the President-elect, is answering reporters' questions on the 1st at the transition office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, after announcing the personnel appointments of the presidential office reorganized into a '2 Offices and 5 Senior Secretaries' system.

On the same day, Go Eom-jin, the chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, held a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office and said, "'We hoped it wouldn't be the case, but it was as expected.'

Go pointed out, "In a time when a national interest-centered strategy is more necessary than ever amid the emerging new Cold War order around the Korean Peninsula, the presidential office has been filled with anachronistic proponents of strengthening the Korea-US-Japan alliance."

Regarding Kim Tae-hyo, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University appointed as the first deputy director of the National Security Office, he criticized him as "an inappropriate figure who led the secretive handling of GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) during the Lee Myung-bak administration." Concerning the appointment of former lawmaker Kang Seung-gyu as the Chief of Civil Society, he said, "While claiming to create a small and efficient Blue House, they expanded the Civil Society Chief's office and appointed former lawmaker Kang, who has no experience in civic movements," adding, "There is concern that the Civil Society Chief's office's main role might become a loyal propaganda unit that unilaterally disseminates the president's thoughts rather than communicating with civic groups."

Go emphasized, "It is also dangerous to abolish the Civil Affairs and Personnel Chief positions and entrust personnel verification functions to the Ministry of Justice and others," and added, "Yoon Suk-yeol, the president-elect, must respond to concerns that investigative functions centered on the prosecution will be significantly strengthened."

He said, "President Yoon's inaugural secretariat office favored individuals trying to avoid National Assembly confirmation hearings," noting, "Kim Yong-hyun, the head of the security office, declined the Minister of National Defense position due to the burden of National Assembly confirmation hearings, and media reports suggested that Choi Sang-mok, the Economic Chief, chose the secretariat office because he could not pass confirmation hearings due to involvement in the Park Geun-hye administration's state affairs manipulation. If these reports are true, Yoon's inaugural secretariat office deserves criticism as a 'paradise for those avoiding scrutiny.'"

He also pointed out the lack of generational diversity.

Go said, "During the presidential election, they promised to appoint ministers in their 30s to attract votes from voters in their 20s and 30s, but neither the cabinet nor this time did they appoint people in their 30s, only those who have children in their 30s," adding, "Among the few key personnel, it is notable that President-elect Yoon and Kim Seong-han, the National Security Office chief, were elementary school classmates, and Kim Yong-hyun, the head of the security office, was a high school senior. Yoon said he would not disadvantage anyone just because they are close, but he is not free from criticism that he chose competent people among those he is close to."

He concluded, "The Democratic Party will strictly scrutinize the inappropriate appointments of the presidential secretariat through the National Assembly's Steering Committee and others."

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