Shin Hyun-soo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, to Return Monday After Leave Today and Tomorrow... Cheong Expects Resolution but Controversy Remains Difficult to Settle
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] An unusual situation continues where the President rejected the resignation of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, who announced his resignation 40 days after his appointment, but the Senior Secretary remains firm in his decision to resign. On the 18th, the Blue House also stated that "there is no change in the situation." This means that the fact of the Senior Secretary's resignation and its background, explained the previous day, have not progressed to any resolution phase.
However, the fact that Senior Secretary Shin took a leave on the 18th suggests a possibility of change. A senior Blue House official said on that day, "Senior Secretary Shin came to work this morning and submitted a leave request for today and tomorrow," adding, "After taking some time to reflect, he is expected to return to work on Monday, and I think he will say something then."
Unless Senior Secretary Shin Hyun-soo withdraws his resignation and clearly clarifies the parts of the media reports and analyses that are not true, it seems that President Moon Jae-in has no suitable options to choose from.
Some interpret this as an extension of the ‘Chu-Yoon conflict’ between Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, but this incident, which started from the conflict between Shin Hyun-soo and Justice Minister Park Beom-gye, has a completely different nature. It can only be interpreted as a signal of a lame-duck phenomenon (power leakage) emerging from within the Blue House, beyond the level of resistance from reform targets and pressure from the regime.
To understand the chaotic situation, one must approach the three ‘mystery axes’: the real reason for Senior Secretary Shin’s resignation, the truth behind Minister Park’s prosecution personnel announcement, and President Moon’s ‘political stance.’
The situation on December 31 of last year, when the Blue House appointment announcement was made, is the key to solving questions about Senior Secretary Shin’s recent actions. At that time, Shin said, "I have taken on this role during a difficult time," and delivered a brief message, "I will do my best as far as I can." The phrase ‘as far as I can’ is a noteworthy part.
Senior Secretary Shin, who is from the 16th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, is a senior to Prosecutor General Yoon (23rd class). This is why he was noted as a mediator of conflicts between the ruling party and the prosecution. Shin put a brake on the Ministry of Justice’s prosecution personnel plan, which was based on retaining Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Sung-yoon, but ultimately failed to achieve his intention. The limit of his role theory is generally analyzed as leading to his resignation announcement.
The fact that Senior Secretary Shin’s resignation was made public also put a brake on Minister Park’s actions, which is another point to watch. Whether Minister Park reported the prosecution personnel plan to President Moon as if coordination with Senior Secretary Shin had been completed is also a matter of interest.
The background of President Moon’s approval of the prosecution personnel plan is also a focus of attention. The claim by some that the approval was given under the understanding that coordination between Minister Park and Senior Secretary Shin was completed is difficult to accept considering the Blue House system.
Regarding this, Kim Jong-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said in an interview with MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focus’ on the 18th, "The President tends to respect the opinions of the proposer or aides regarding personnel matters," and explained, "He probably approved it with the expectation that the differences were not serious and that the situation would be well managed as it is."
President Moon’s difficulty in easily accepting Senior Secretary Shin’s resignation is also related to the political schedule of the ‘April 7 by-elections.’ If the Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs is replaced due to the prosecution personnel controversy, keywords such as ‘Yoon Seok-youl,’ ‘Cho Kuk,’ and ‘Chu Mi-ae’ could re-emerge as issues ahead of the election.
The ruling party was planning a political scenario to bring a favorable public mood based on the expansion of COVID-19 vaccinations and the provision of emergency disaster relief funds centered on small business owners and self-employed people, but the main line of the election landscape could be shaken. The opposition party is already exploiting the ruling party’s weaknesses. The National Assembly’s Steering Committee, which oversees the Blue House, is scheduled to hold a standing committee meeting on the 26th, and whether Senior Secretary Shin will attend is expected to be a focal point.
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at an emergency meeting on the 18th, "It cannot be denied that this is a rebellion by the President’s closest core," and added, "We will summon the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs to the Steering Committee targeting the Blue House on the 26th to clarify the circumstances and what the problems are."
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