President Yoon Appoints New Senior Secretaries in Major Reshuffle

President Yoon Suk-yeol has made significant changes to his senior aides, replacing five senior secretaries in a major reshuffle. Seong Gi-hong, former president of Yonhap News Agency, has been appointed as the new Senior Secretary for Public Communication, while Han Chan-sik, a lawyer from Kim & Chang, has been named Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.

The changes also include new appointments for the Senior Secretary for Social Affairs and the first and third deputy directors of the National Security Office, signaling an effort to refresh the administration's personnel and regain momentum as Yoon enters his second year in office.

Kang Hoon-sik, the Chief of Staff to the President, announced the appointments during a briefing at the Chunchugwan on the morning of the announcement.

Kang described Seong as a veteran journalist with 30 years of experience, possessing a keen sense of news reporting and balanced judgment as a news director. He emphasized that Seong would closely monitor public sentiment and effectively communicate government achievements to the public.

Han Chan-sik, the new Civil Affairs Secretary, is noted for his background as the Director of Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice and his experience in leading various prosecutor's offices. Kang expressed confidence that Han would enhance accountability within the public service and successfully implement reforms in the prosecution system, including the establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the High-ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency.

The new Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, Kim Kyung-ja, is a former Deputy Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and currently a visiting professor at Woosuk University. Kang described her as a health and medical expert with a background in labor movements and civil society activism, highlighting her commitment to addressing social issues to ensure that all citizens can benefit from growth and opportunities.

For the National Security Office, Kang Gun-jak, a member of the Presidential Future Defense Strategy Committee, has been appointed as the first deputy director, while Song Gi-ho, the current Economic Security Secretary, will serve as the third deputy director.

Kang praised Kang Gun-jak, a retired Army general, for his consistent advocacy of political neutrality in the military, self-reliant defense capabilities, and military structural reforms, stating he is well-suited to strengthen national security.

Song Gi-ho has been part of the Blue House team since the early days of the current administration, having served as the Director of the National Security Situation Room and the Economic Security Secretary before his new appointment.

Kang noted that Song played a pivotal role over the past year amid changing U.S. tariff policies and supply chain risks originating from the Middle East, expressing confidence that he would maintain continuity and stability in economic security policies while responding proactively to new security threats.

Kang emphasized that this significant reshuffle reflects the administration's commitment to self-improvement and accountability.

Meanwhile, the position of Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning remains vacant following the candidacy of former Secretary Ha Jung-woo in Busan's Buk-gu district. Kang stated, "There are no confirmed facts regarding this matter," and declined to comment on media reports suggesting Ha would be appointed as the Vice Chair of the National AI Strategy Committee.