2024-04-14 08:27:05
Following the ruling party’s crushing defeat in the April 10 general election, President Yoon Seok-yeol’s concerns appear to be deepening as personnel reorganization of the presidential office and cabinet is imminent. According to the President’s Office on the 14th, President Yoon has not scheduled an official schedule for five days from the 10th, the day of his general election, to this day. However, on this followingnoon, he presided over an emergency economic and security meeting at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, as the situation in the Middle East worsened, including Iran’s attack on Israel.
Initially, there was speculation that the appointment of the Chief of Staff might be announced on Sunday, but an official from the President’s Office drew the line, saying, “It will likely take some time because the minimum amount of time is needed for verification.” The explanation is that it will take time to physically appoint a successor because all of the senior secretaries in the President’s Office, including Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and Chief of Staff Lee Kwan-seop, expressed their resignation on the 11th, when the results of the general election were announced.
However, the selection of the Chief of Staff is considered an urgent matter and the prevailing view is that it will be announced within this week. This is because a person is needed to assist President Yoon and discuss the selection process to reform the Cabinet and the Presidential Office. This official said, “Wouldn’t an announcement (regarding the appointment of the Chief of Staff) be made within this week at the latest?”
Among the candidates for chief of staff, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who ran for Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, is listed as first choice. Former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik and Rep. Jeong Jin-seok, who were defeated, are also mentioned. Representative Jang Je-won, Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, and former Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan, who are classified as close associates of President Yoon, were also considered.
However, opposition from the opposition party is an obstacle. Chief Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea Kwon Chil-seung criticized the successor Chief of Staff in the President’s Office and Prime Minister Hama-pyeong, saying, “Given his personality, it is questionable whether the President will take seriously the public sentiment revealed in the general election,” and added, “The rampage of non-communication will continue.” Some say that in order to show the will for reform, politicians with no direct ties to President Yoon, such as former lawmaker Chung Byeong-guk, should be considered.
Active lawmakers such as Joo Ho-young and Kwon Young-se are being mentioned first as the next prime minister who must receive the consent of the National Assembly, but the parties involved are denying the possibility.
National Unification Committee Chairman Kim Han-gil and former National Assembly Vice-Speaker Park Joo-seon, who are from the opposition party, may also be considered. Economic experts, such as former Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Jung-kyung, former Financial Services Commission Chairman Lim Jong-ryong, and former Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoon Jeung-hyun, who were ranked among the first prime ministers of the Yoon Seok-yeol government, are also emerging once more.
Meanwhile, President Yoon is expected to issue a message regarding his defeat in the general election sometime this week. Several options are being considered, including a statement to the public, a statement at the Cabinet meeting, and a press conference.
[박윤균 기자]
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