Presidential Office Begins Full Review of 'Second Secretariat'... Finalizing Personnel Before General Election

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The Presidential Office is set to actively establish a Second Secretariat dedicated to handling the schedule and messages of the President's spouse. It is reported that follow-up measures, such as identifying candidates for the Second Secretariat Secretary, will be reviewed as early as this week.

Earlier, on the 5th, the Presidential Office stated regarding the possibility of restoring the Second Secretariat to assist the First Lady, "President Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign pledge was not to establish a Second Secretariat," but also added, "If the majority of the public thinks it is better to establish one, we will consider it."

During the last presidential election, President Yoon promised to abolish the Second Secretariat, saying, "I have long thought that the Second Secretariat is unnecessary, and the Blue House seems to have too many personnel." However, controversies related to Kim Geon-hee, such as the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway allegations, luxury shopping during overseas trips, and recently, suspicions of receiving luxury bags, have continued to surface, worsening public opinion.

Currently, there is no procedural difficulty in establishing the Second Secretariat. Unlike the appointment of a special inspector, which requires candidate recommendations from both ruling and opposition parties, the Presidential Office can create and operate it directly. Above all, since there are personnel who have been assisting Mrs. Kim in the existing secretariat, the possibility of early establishment cannot be ruled out.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the political circles explain that an explanation to the public will be necessary as President Yoon is reversing his campaign pledge. Although President Yoon, who pledged to abolish the Second Secretariat during the presidential election and implemented it after taking office, was reportedly negative about its revival until recently, he is said to have shifted toward acceptance after persuasion by his aides. Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also expressed agreement, stating, "The special inspector and the Second Secretariat are different areas from (the implementation of) the joint special prosecution. I see this as a proactive explanation by the Presidential Office, and if the party can assist in the process, we will prepare diligently," he added.

However, opposition parties continue to oppose the move. The Democratic Party of Korea pointed out that "the establishment of the Presidential Office's Second Secretariat and the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution are completely separate issues." On the same day, Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party spokesperson, said at a National Assembly briefing, "It seems like an attempt to divert public attention demanding a special prosecution, but there is a limit to such deception," criticizing the move.

Spokesperson Park criticized, "The Presidential Office, which vetoed the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecution Act,' is oddly pushing for the establishment of the Second Secretariat to divert public attention. The public demanded an investigation into the stock manipulation allegations surrounding Mrs. Kim, not that she be properly assisted." He then demanded, "The Presidential Office must properly respond to the public demanding the substantive truth about the stock manipulation allegations involving Mrs. Kim."

Meanwhile, President Yoon is expected to carry out the Presidential Office's "last personnel reshuffle before the general election" early this week, in line with the resignation deadline for public officials running in the April general election. Key figures include Joo Jin-woo, the legal secretary, and Lee Won-mo, the personnel secretary, both close associates of President Yoon from the prosecution, who are likely to run in Busan Suyeong and Seoul, respectively. The National Security Office, the control tower for diplomacy and security, is also undergoing final organizational adjustments, including the appointment of Jang Ho-jin as the head of the Security Office.

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