Shin Hyun-soo's Cheong Minjeong Chief Position Announcement Delayed to Afternoon... Attention on Announcement Content and Format
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Although the Blue House is avoiding specific comments on the status of Shin Hyun-soo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, it is known to be leaning toward resignation.
The Blue House planned to announce the outcome once the status issue was resolved after Shin's arrival at work on the 22nd. As of 11 a.m., there has been no separate mention regarding Shin's status.
Previously, Shin took a vacation from the 18th to the 19th. When Shin chose to take a vacation, speculation arose that he had made up his mind to resign. Shin was contemplating his position due to disagreements with Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye over high-level prosecutorial personnel appointments.
Shin, a former prosecutor who served as head of the Narcotics Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, also served as the Secretary for Inspection at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. He was a trusted figure to the extent that he was appointed Director of Planning and Coordination at the National Intelligence Service immediately after President Moon Jae-in's inauguration. However, it is reported that he felt limited in his role when his opinions were not reflected in prosecutorial personnel decisions.
Shin is known to have sent text messages to acquaintances in the legal community saying, "I have already lost momentum. I will never meet Minister Park in my lifetime." The Blue House avoided specific comments on whether the messages were sent, but this has led to speculation that the conflict is serious enough to cause a breakdown in personal relations.
If Shin resigns, attention will also focus on the appointment of his successor as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. Names such as former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Oh-soo, Professor Kim In-hoe of Inha University Law School, and former Defense Acquisition Program Administration head Wang Jeong-hong are being mentioned as potential candidates.
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