The Last Chief Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs at Cheong: A Repeated 'History of Short Tenures' Like a Custom

Last 2 Months of Civil Affairs Chief under the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, Last 5 Months under the Park Geun-hye Administration
Why It Is Difficult to Assert Shin Hyun-soo as President Moon's Last Civil Affairs Chief

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] With Shin Hyun-soo, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, returning to his duties, attention is focused on whether he will remain as an aide responsible for President Moon Jae-in's term until the very end. The so-called ‘Sunjangjo’?the last aides?are mostly individuals who enjoy the president’s deep trust.

As the president’s retirement approaches, the internal power dynamics within the ruling party show a sharp tilt between the ‘rising sun’ and the ‘setting sun.’ Those who assist the president during his most difficult times are precisely the aides known as Sunjangjo.

In particular, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs inevitably attracts attention due to the nature of the role among the Blue House aides. This is why past presidents have appointed trusted individuals to this position. Shin is also known to have a special connection with President Moon and to enjoy strong trust.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is why, when he was appointed as the new Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House on December 31 last year, there was speculation that he could be responsible until the end of President Moon’s term. Recently, as his position became a subject of controversy, the perception of him both inside and outside the ruling party has changed significantly.

Shin may become President Moon’s last Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, but considering the ‘short-lived history’ that has been a recurring pattern in Korean political history, it is premature to draw a conclusion. The terms of the last Senior Secretaries for Civil Affairs have generally been short.

A representative example is former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Lee Ho-cheol during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Then-President Roh appointed his lifelong ‘political comrade’ Lee Ho-cheol as the last Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. After the presidential election defeat was confirmed, Lee was appointed on December 21, 2007, and served a short term of two months until February 2008, when a new administration took office.

Former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Cho Dae-hwan, who served as the last Senior Secretary during the Park Geun-hye administration, also had a term of only five months. He was appointed in December 2016 amid the turmoil of the president’s impeachment and served until just before the Moon Jae-in administration began in May 2017.

If Shin remains in his Blue House aide position until the end of President Moon’s final term in May next year, he will have served as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs for one year and five months. Considering the terms of previous last Senior Secretaries for Civil Affairs, he would be regarded as a ‘long-serving’ secretary.

Among the Senior Secretaries for Civil Affairs of the Moon Jae-in administration, excluding former Senior Secretary Cho Kuk, who served for two years and two months, Shin could be recorded as the longest-serving Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.

Given the remaining 1 year and 3 months of President Moon’s term, there is a sufficient possibility that the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs could be included in the personnel reshuffle at the Blue House. Regarding this, a senior Blue House official said, “(President Moon’s decision on Shin’s position) will either continue as is or involve several decisions.”