Jang Je-won "High Possibility of Abolishing Policy Chief"... Slimming Down the Presidential Office

Jang Je-won, Chief of Staff to the President-elect, is leaving the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 17th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The office of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol reaffirmed on the 17th its stance to "streamline" the reorganization of the presidential office. It appears that the two-office system consisting of the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office has been virtually confirmed.

Jang Je-won, Chief Secretary to President-elect Yoon, told reporters at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, that "there is no change in the position to streamline" regarding the reorganization of the presidential office.

When asked whether it would be reduced to a "two-office, six-chief secretary system," he replied, "I am not sure if the number of chief secretaries will be exactly six. Nothing has been decided yet," adding, "But the two offices (Presidential Secretariat and National Security Office) seem likely."

Regarding the Policy Office, Jang explained, "Since there are chief secretaries related to policy, such as the Chief Secretary for Economic Affairs, the Policy Office is likely to be abolished." The Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House operated under a three-office system with the Chief Secretary to the President, the Director of the National Security Office, and the Chief Secretary for Policy.

He continued, "The Chief Secretary for Jobs and the Chief Secretary for Economic Affairs are currently separated, but they may need to be integrated. However, no clear direction has been established yet."

In response to remarks that there was insufficient time to verify the personnel of Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, Jang said, "Nominee Jeong was appointed as director of Kyungpook National University Hospital during the Park Geun-hye administration and was verified then. After the impeachment, when the Moon Jae-in administration took office, nominee Jeong was verified again. We also received those materials. Since he was on the shortlist for personnel recommendation, we received verification materials and requested additional documents. It is not true that there was no time."

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