Reasons Behind Park Suhyun's Soaring Value as the Top Candidate for Blue House Senior Secretary

Former Blue House Spokesperson and Ex-Secretary to Kim Jong-in... A Flexible Mindset, Capable of Communicating with Both Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] As the appointment of senior secretaries at the Blue House is imminent, the person most frequently mentioned in the rumors is former Blue House spokesperson Park Su-hyun. He is being considered simultaneously as a successor to Kang Ki-jung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and Yoon Do-han, Senior Secretary for Public Communication.

There are speculations that President Moon Jae-in will make appointments for the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, Senior Secretary for Public Communication, and Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, and his name is being mentioned for multiple positions.

Former spokesperson Park has experience acting as the "voice of President Moon Jae-in." In May 2017, coinciding with the launch of the Moon Jae-in administration, the president appointed him as the inaugural Blue House spokesperson. He has a political background different from the pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) figures who form the core of President Moon’s close group.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Born in Gongju, Chungnam, he served as chief of staff to Kim Han-gil during his tenure as leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, and also as chief of staff to Kim Jong-in when he was the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea. It is noteworthy that the inaugural Blue House spokesperson chosen by President Moon was a former "chief of staff to leader Kim Jong-in."

Former spokesperson Park is known for his extensive connections with politicians across party lines and is highly regarded for his communication with the media. After leaving the Blue House, he continued his public service by becoming chief of staff to National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, and in April he ran in the 21st general election.

For the Democratic Party, his constituency is a rural area in Chungnam considered a difficult district. Park was elected as a candidate of the Democratic United Party in Gongju, Chungnam during the 19th general election. He ran in the Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang district in both the 20th and 21st general elections, achieving vote shares of 45.0% and 46.4%, respectively, but was defeated.

If former spokesperson Park is appointed as a senior secretary, it will be a rare case of holding key positions at the Blue House, the National Assembly Speaker’s office, and then the Blue House again after the Moon Jae-in administration. This indicates that he is a figure recognized by both the president and the National Assembly Speaker.