Presidential Office Launches Second Term with Complete Chief Replacement... Focus on 'Policy Strengthening' and Reform (Comprehensive)

Yoon Replaces 5 Senior Secretaries... Focuses on Policy to Overcome Expo Crisis
Economic Secretary Park Chunsup, Social Secretary Jang Sangyun
Political Affairs Han Oseop, Civil Society Hwang Sangmu, Public Relations Lee Dowoon
New Policy Office Established... Lee Gwansup "Will Achieve Price Stability"

President Yoon Suk-yeol replaced all senior secretaries at the Presidential Office on the 30th. This marks the launch of the second phase of the Presidential Office, which features the appointment of new figures with strong relevance to the work while strengthening policy functions. It is also a choice to overcome the spreading criticism following the failure to host the Busan World Expo and to increase policy focus. President Yoon began formulating political strategies by adjusting official schedules for two consecutive days.

On the same day in the afternoon, President Yoon promoted Han Oh-seop, Director of the National Situation Room, to the new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs; Lee Do-woon, spokesperson, to Senior Secretary for Public Relations; appointed Hwang Sang-mu, former KBS anchor, as Senior Secretary for Civil Society; Park Chun-seop, a member of the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Committee, as Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs; and Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, as Senior Secretary for Social Affairs. Kim Dae-gi, Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office, announced these personnel changes at the Yongsan Presidential Office. They will assume their posts starting from the 4th.

President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed six new senior secretaries of the Presidential Office on the 30th. From the top left: Lee Gwan-seop, Chief of Policy Office; Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs; Lee Do-woon, Senior Secretary for Public Relations; Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs (bottom left); Han Oh-seop, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs; Hwang Sang-mu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier that morning, President Yoon established the position of Senior Secretary for Policy and promoted Lee Gwan-seop, Senior Secretary for National Planning, to this new role. Chief Secretary Kim evaluated Lee’s appointment by saying, "Director Lee has demonstrated outstanding policy planning and coordination skills, successfully resolving major issues. He has high insight into overall state affairs and is the right person to drive national tasks forward with vigor based on communication with various stakeholders."

Director Lee said, "Looking back over the past year and three months, I have been lacking in many ways and feel a heavy responsibility in taking on this important role. I will accelerate the implementation of the 120 major national tasks and serve as a bridge to ensure smooth policy coordination between the Cabinet and the ruling party." He added, "Economic indicators are recovering now, but people’s livelihoods remain difficult. Stabilizing prices is the top priority, and we will mobilize all available policies to achieve price stability."

Han Oh-seop, the new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, who managed planning and messaging during the last presidential campaign and then served as Director of the National Situation Room overseeing overall state affairs after the government’s inauguration, will act as a bridge between the National Assembly and the Presidential Office. Han is praised for his excellent political judgment, having promptly reported related situations to President Yoon during the Itaewon tragedy. Han said, "I feel a heavy burden taking on this difficult role at a critical time. I will ensure no neglect in communication between the ruling party and the Presidential Office, as well as between the National Assembly and the Presidential Office."

Park Chun-seop, the new Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, is known as a budget and economic expert with extensive experience at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He served as the first Administrator of the Public Procurement Service during the Moon Jae-in administration. After becoming Secretary General of the Korean Sports Council in June 2022, he moved to the Bank of Korea in April this year to serve as a Monetary Policy Committee member. Park said, "I feel a heavy responsibility taking charge of the Economic Secretary’s office during difficult economic times. I will do my utmost to improve people’s lives and resolve livelihood issues."

Hwang Sang-mu, former KBS anchor and newly appointed Senior Secretary for Civil Society, joined the People Power Party in 2021 and oversaw President Yoon’s debates and related matters. Hwang expressed his ambition, saying, "I will approach the people with a humble and low profile attitude and listen carefully to their voices."

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, was appointed Senior Secretary for Social Affairs. He previously held various posts at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, including Director of Planning, Social Regulation Manager, Social Welfare Policy Officer, Chief Policy Officer, and Director of Social Coordination. He has been praised for effectively leading the early Education Ministry during a prolonged ministerial vacancy under the Yoon administration. Jang said, "I feel a heavy burden during these difficult times. Each social issue involves accumulated conflicts and sharply opposing interests, so I will focus on communication at the field level and actively explain policies to gain the public’s trust."

Lee Do-woon was promoted to Senior Secretary for Public Relations after nine months. He left Seoul Shinmun in 2017 when former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was preparing to run for president and served as Ban’s campaign spokesperson. After Ban decided not to run, Lee joined the Munhwa Ilbo as a columnist. He resigned from Munhwa Ilbo in January this year and moved to the Presidential Office as spokesperson in February. Lee said, "Although I received many questions during briefings, I pride myself on never having lied or misled. I will communicate more broadly and extensively."

However, the newly established Senior Secretary for Science and Technology was not included in the personnel announcement that day. The Presidential Office explained, "We have decided to form the Science and Technology Secretary’s office, but the appointment will take some time. Nevertheless, we plan to establish it by the end of this year or early next year."

Earlier, President Yoon officially announced the creation of the Senior Secretary for Policy position at the Presidential Office. This is a measure to strengthen coordination and consultation functions with the Cabinet and the ruling party, accelerate policy implementation, and conduct thorough economic policy reviews. Above all, it reflects President Yoon’s determination to focus more on policy areas for people’s livelihoods ahead of the general election. As a result, the Presidential Office will be reorganized from the current two-chief system?Chief Secretary and National Security Office Director?to a three-chief system. The existing National Planning Secretariat will be abolished, and the Economic and Social Secretariats will be moved under the Policy Secretariat to increase focus on policy areas.

This is also expected to reduce the burden on Chief Secretary Kim, who manages both political and policy areas. The Political Affairs Senior Secretary, Civil Society Senior Secretary, and Public Relations Senior Secretary under him will be able to concentrate on political affairs, while the Policy Senior Secretary will focus solely on policy. The Future Strategy Planning Office, which was in charge of the Expo hosting bid within the Presidential Office, is effectively entering the process of being abolished.

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