Presidential Aides Replaced After Only 117 Days

President Lee Myung-bak appointed Chung Chung-kil, president of Ulsan University, as new presidential chief of staff and replaced all seven presidential secretaries Friday.

Maeng Hyung-kyu, former Grand National Party lawmaker, was named as senior secretary for political affairs and Chung Tong-ki, former vice justice minister, was designated as secretary for civil affairs. Kim Sung-hwan, incumbent second vice minister for foreign affairs, was picked as the senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security, while Bahk Jae-wan, the senior secretary for political affairs, was reassigned as senior secretary for policy planning.

Bahk Byong-won, former first vice finance minister, was tapped as senior secretary for economic policies, and Kang Yoon-koo, former health-welfare vice minister, was selected as senior secretary for social policies. Hanyang University professor Cheong Jean-gon was appointed as senior secretary for education, science and culture.

Park Hyung-joon, the president’s former campaign strategist and spokesperson, was selected for the newly created post of senior secretary for public relations. Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan will be the only senior presidential staff to retain his post.

The sweeping shake-up of top presidential aides came only 117 days after they were appointed.

The average assets of the newly appointed secretaries are valued at 1.6 billion won, less than half of those of the outgoing secretaries at 3.7 billion won. Four of the new aides are from Seoul, three are from the southeastern region and the remaining two are from the southwestern region.

Spokesman Lee said that the new presidential chief of staff and senior presidential secretaries are experts in each area with extensive practical and theoretical knowledge and have been screened and selected in consideration of the public’s concerns. “We have chosen figures that share public sentiments and have the right talents for their positions. The reshuffle was also made in consideration of regional balance,” he added.

The major shake-up was made in an effort to overcome the current crisis stemming from the resumption of U.S. beef imports and the outgoing aides’ inability to handle state affairs and communicate with the public. The president is planning to brave through the tension of the recession with the opening of the 18th National Assembly and the Cabinet reshuffle, which is expected to take place next week.

The president will replace Park Young-joon, who resigned as planning and coordination secretary, with Chung In-chul, a former member of Lee`s presidential transition committee, and bring in Kim Chul-kyun, the former vice president of Daum Communications, and Hong Jin-pyo, the secretary-general of Liberty Union, in the new posts of Internet secretary and civil society secretary, respectively.

swpark@donga.com