S. Korean President replaces top aides for economy, job creations, civil society
  • 6 years ago
The presidential Blue House announced three new members to the staff earlier this morning.
Let's go live to our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung for details.
Connyoung, any surprises?

Well, Jiyoon. The announcement itself this Tuesday morning was a surprise... as although the press corps here knew a personnel reshuffle would be coming up somewhere along the road, we had no idea that it would be today especially considering the president had only returned from his Russia trip the day before yesterday.
In hindsight, he did stay away from public activity, canceled a Monday meeting of his top aides to stay in, review documents and be briefed on internal affairs.

So, three major changes at the top office, we will see: President Moon Jae-in, as he has, in earnest kicked off his second year in office, made three new appointments for his top aides' post.

First, senior secretary to the president for economic affairs: Mr. Moon named Yoon Jong-won, a former director from the Finance Ministry... currently the chief of the South Korean mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to replace Hong Jang-pyo.

Second, the senior secretary to the president for job creation: the South Korean president whose number one campaign pledge was just that - creating more quality jobs - has been seeing more than disappointing numbers lately with record high unemployment numbers in years particularly among the youths. He promoted Jung Tae-ho, his secretary for policy planning, to the position replacing Bahn Jahng-shick.

Last but not least: the president has created a new post called senior presidential secretary for civil society to enhance communication with the civil society and accommodate their needs. This post will replace the current senior secretary for civic reform post. Mr. Moon named Lee Yong-sun, a district chief of the ruling Democratic Party and dismissed Ha Seung-chang who held the civic reform post.

Connyoung, do we know what these personnel changes are aimed at?

Well, Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok who made the announcement said the reshuffle was aimed at making good on the policy direction set out by those involved in the first year of the Moon administration.
Basically, the past year has been a year of setting the economic policy direction which as we know are income-led, innovation-led growth and fair economy.
The second year, he said, will be aimed at accelerating or expediating efforts to change the nature of the local economy to produce results and of course churn out jobs, and lots out of it, Jiyoon.
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