Lee Gwan-seop Appointed as Chief of Policy Planning for 'Newly Established'... Lim Jong-deuk as 2nd Deputy Director of National Security Office, Kim Eun-hye as Chief of Public Relations (Comprehensive)

Former Chief Choi Young-beom Moves to External Cooperation Special Advisor
Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi: "Government Reform, Especially Secretary Office Reform, Continues for 5 Years"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 21st, the Presidential Office established the Policy Planning Chief Office and appointed Lee Gwan-seop, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, as its head. Im Jong-deuk, former Blue House Defense Secretary, was appointed to the vacant position of the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office, and Kim Eun-hye, former People Power Party lawmaker, was appointed as the new Chief of Public Relations. The existing Chief of Public Relations, Choi Young-beom, will serve as Special Advisor for External Cooperation, supporting overall government publicity work.

Kim Dae-gi, Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office, announced these appointments during a briefing held at the Yongsan Presidential Office briefing room in the afternoon.

New Policy Planning Chief Lee Gwan-seop previously served as Director of the Energy Resources Office and Director of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, then as the 1st Vice Minister before retiring from public office in 2016. He has also served as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.

Kim said of Lee, "He has worked extensively in the Presidential Secretariat and as a senior specialist for the party, and is recognized not only for his planning ability across government affairs but also for his political acumen. He is the right person to facilitate smoother communication and understanding among ministries, the Presidential Office, and the public, leading the realization of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s core national tasks."

Lee pledged, "Many citizens have high hopes and expectations for the Yoon Seok-yeol government, but there are also many who feel disappointed. I will do my utmost to ensure a government that upholds fairness and common sense and achieves national unity."

Following the sudden resignation of former 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office Shin In-ho earlier this month for "personal reasons," the vacant position was filled by Im Jong-deuk, former Defense Secretary. Im has held key positions such as Deputy Chief of Strategic Planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander of the 17th Division, and Deputy Commander of the Capital Corps. He served as Defense Secretary at the Blue House during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2016.

Kim introduced Im as "someone who has held major positions in the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recognized as a policy expert and the best fit for defense policy and military strategy."

Im emphasized, "Given the critical security situation both domestically and internationally, I bear heavy responsibility as the 2nd Deputy Director. I will faithfully carry out President Yoon’s philosophy."

The Chief of Public Relations position was also changed. New Chief Kim Eun-hye served as the Public Relations Director of the People Power Party’s Central Election Committee during the last presidential election and as spokesperson during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s transition period. She is a former MBC reporter and anchor and served as the 2nd spokesperson at the Blue House during the Lee Myung-bak administration from 2008 to 2010.

She ran for Governor of Gyeonggi Province in the June 1 local elections but narrowly lost by 0.15 percentage points to Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party.

Kim Dae-gi praised her as "someone with top expertise in publicity and media, who has a deep understanding of the president’s governance philosophy through her roles as election committee public relations director and transition spokesperson. She is the right person to properly convey information and facilitate communication regarding government philosophy and national tasks."

Chief Kim said, "I will humbly and sincerely convey the expectations and wishes of the people and serve as a bridge to properly communicate the Yoon government’s philosophy. I believe that the media’s evaluation of the government closely reflects the voice of the people. Please always correct me when I fall short."

With the establishment of the Policy Planning Chief Office, it will oversee the National Task Secretary, Planning Secretary, and Speech Record Secretary offices. The existing Policy Coordination Planning Officer’s title has been changed to Future Strategy Planning Officer, focusing all efforts on securing the 2030 Busan World Expo. The existing Future Strategy Secretary Office has been renamed the Future Policy Secretary Office.

In response to reporters’ questions about current government confusion and President Yoon’s approval ratings, with some suggesting the cause is not a lack of publicity but a misdiagnosis of the problem, Kim emphasized, "As President Yoon stated in his Liberation Day address and 100-day inauguration press conference, government reform, especially reform of the Secretariat, will continue for five years."

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