SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced major changes to his administration on Monday, appointing five-term lawmaker Chung Jin-suk as his new chief of staff and former lawmaker Hong Chul-ho as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs. These appointments mark the first significant personnel shifts following the ruling party's defeat in the April 10 parliamentary elections.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon made these announcements personally, highlighting this as his first press announcement on personnel since his inauguration in May 2022. Yoon praised Chung's bipartisan relations and expressed confidence in his ability to effectively communicate with various governmental and civic bodies, including the Cabinet and both ruling and opposition parties. Chung, a member of the People Power Party (PPP) and a veteran politician with extensive experience, including a stint as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs under former President Lee Myung-bak, will replace Lee Kwan-sup.
Later in the day, Yoon introduced Hong Chul-ho, a two-term former lawmaker and entrepreneur known for founding the Goobne Chicken franchise, as the new senior presidential secretary for political affairs. Yoon cited Hong’s commendable communication and social skills as pivotal for his selection, emphasizing his ability to integrate public opinion into governance.
Both Chung and Hong addressed the media, with Chung committing to a politics of unity and acknowledging the challenges of governing with a minority in the parliament. Hong reflected on the election results as a signal of public sentiment, indicating areas where the government needs to improve.
The announcement session was notable as President Yoon took questions from reporters for the first time since November 2022, promising to focus on public livelihood issues and acknowledging the need for time to appoint a new prime minister.