President Lee Reshuffles Key Advisors, Replacing Half of Senior Staff

President Lee Jae-myung announced a significant reshuffle of his senior advisors on June 21, replacing five key positions, including those in Public Communication and Civil Affairs.

The three main offices of the Blue House—Secretariat, Policy, and National Security—will remain unchanged to maintain stability, while the changes at the senior level are seen as a move to reinvigorate the administration's governance. With the upcoming appointment of a Chief of AI Future Planning, a total of six out of eleven senior positions will be replaced.

The reshuffle is expected to expand further, especially with anticipated changes among some vice ministers following the appointment of Han Seong-sook as Prime Minister.

During a briefing at the Chunchugwan, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the appointment of Seong Gi-hong, former president of Yonhap News Agency, as Chief of Public Communication, and Han Chan-sik, a lawyer from Kim & Chang, as Chief of Civil Affairs.

Kim Kyung-ja, a former deputy chair of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was appointed as Chief of Social Affairs. Kang Geon-jak, a member of the Presidential Future Defense Strategy Committee, was named First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, while Song Gi-ho, the current Economic Security Secretary, was appointed as Third Deputy Director. Additionally, Nam Jae-heon was appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

Kang explained that the reshuffle aims to implement the administration's vision of an "indispensable Republic of Korea" with greater urgency based on the achievements of the past year.

He emphasized that with the upcoming appointment of the AI Future Planning Chief, six senior positions will be changed, representing over one-third of the total and nearly half, indicating a significant reshuffle.

Kang described this as a reform effort and a declaration of the administration's commitment to not become complacent.

He acknowledged the dedication and efforts of the outgoing advisors, stating, "Over the past year, the government has worked tirelessly to overcome the shocks and chaos caused by internal strife and has achieved considerable results. We are grateful for the contributions of the outgoing senior advisors and the Blue House staff."

Kang added that the administration will strive to enhance the pace of governance, aiming to strengthen global diplomacy and security, uphold norms and rules, and protect the lives of citizens. He expressed confidence that the new advisors would work diligently for the future of South Korea.

Meanwhile, the position of Chief of AI Future Planning remains vacant following the resignation of former Chief Ha Jung-woo, who is running in the Busan North Gap by-election. Lee Gi-hyuk, head of Amazon Web Services' startup ecosystem in Korea, is being considered for the role, while Ha is expected to serve as the executive vice-chairman of the Presidential National AI Strategy Committee.

Kang stated that there are no confirmed appointments for these positions and refrained from commenting on recent media reports regarding them.