Presidential Office Personnel Shake-up Typhoon... Yongsan Government Complex 3rd Floor Remains a 'Windless Zone'

More than 20 Aides Leave, Atmosphere Freezes
3rd Floor of Presidential Office Building with Policy Planning Chief and National Security Office Bustles Instead
Analysis: Moving Away from Criticism of Foreign and Security Policies... Strengthening Newly Established Departments

On the 16th, one day before President Yoon Suk-yeol's 100th day in office, the Presidential Office building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul is shown. President Yoon, emphasizing the elimination of authoritarianism, moved the stage of state affairs from the former Blue House to Yongsan. With the president's office relocated to Yongsan, the Blue House has been fully opened to the public. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Although there are evaluations that the atmosphere is unsettled due to the presidential office's large-scale personnel reshuffle, it is reported that the 3rd floor of the building, which is directly above the presidential office, remains a 'windless zone.'

According to the presidential office on the 1st, it has been confirmed that about 20 administrative officers and staff, including five secretaries, have packed up due to the personnel reshuffle. Because of this, the 7th floor, where the Senior Secretary for Civil Society and the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs are located, is said to be eerily quiet.

However, the 3rd floor, which is close to President Yoon's main office (2nd floor), is rather bustling. This floor houses the National Security Office and the recently established Policy Planning Senior Secretary's Office.

A senior government official who recently visited this area conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "The 7th floor is so deserted that hardly anyone is seen coming and going, whereas the 3rd floor is very busy."

The Policy Planning Senior Secretary's Office was recently established and is currently conducting various reports and meetings, creating an atmosphere far from the personnel reshuffle circulating around the presidential office, according to presidential office officials. In particular, the Policy Planning Senior Secretary is taking on the role of the senior chief, resulting in a heavy workload.

In addition, the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, Personnel Planning Officer's Office (Personnel System Secretary, Personnel Secretary), and Public Service Discipline Secretary are still considered windless zones. A presidential office official explained, "In the case of the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs and the Senior Secretary for Civil Society Communication, many tasks are handled independently, so if something goes wrong, it becomes very noticeable. However, the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs and the Senior Secretary for Social Affairs collaborate extensively with ministries, so mistakes are less visible," conveying the atmosphere as "therefore, they appear to make fewer mistakes and seem quiet."

However, dissatisfaction is growing inside and outside the presidential office as the Personnel Planning Officer's Office and the Public Service Discipline Secretary's Office, which are responsible for personnel and verification, are not even mentioned as targets for reshuffle. The sentiment is that even if mistakes are made equally, why do aides from the prosecution survive while those from Yeouido have to leave? However, another official said, "It is true that many 'Eogong' (accidental public servants) are leaving, but some 'Neulgong' (career public servants) are also returning to their ministries," adding, "Employees are holding their breath and watching to see how the personnel reshuffle, which President Yoon said he would continue, will proceed."

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