Yoon's First Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi: "Cheong Excludes Aspects of State Control and Domination"

"Bureaucrat Like Me Was Assigned, Elected Official's Philosophy"
"Policy Led by Prime Minister... Cheong Provides Support"

Kim Dae-gi, the designated Chief of Staff to the President, is answering questions from the press at the 2nd Cabinet announcement held at the transition team's briefing room in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Transition Team Press Photographers Group

Kim Dae-gi, who has been nominated as the first Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, explained the background of his appointment by saying, "It seems the intention is to exclude the aspect of the Blue House controlling, directing, and dominating state affairs, and instead to support state affairs and serve the people."

On the 13th, at the press conference held at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim responded this way when asked about being chosen as the first Chief of Staff of the President.

He said, "The reason I was appointed, not as a political or political affairs figure as has been customary, but as a bureaucrat, seems related to President-elect Yoon's philosophy," adding, "(The President-elect's) state philosophy focuses on national unity and economic revitalization, with particular emphasis on the economy. I think I was called considering these points."

Regarding the question, "Who is the head of the economic 'one team' between the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and the Minister of Economy and Finance?" Kim explained, "(The President-elect) has said several times that it is not desirable for the Blue House to work on and create policies," adding, "So, policies and such will be handled under the Prime Minister's leadership, and we will support in that direction."

President-elect Yoon described Kim as "an economic expert who also possesses political sensibility," and said, "He is the right person to support successful state administration based on many years of public service experience and expertise."

Kim is regarded as an economic expert well-versed in economic policy and budgeting. He graduated from Kyunggi High School and Seoul National University’s Department of Economics, and studied at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Administration and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). He passed the 22nd Administrative Examination and served as Presidential Secretary for Economic Policy under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and as Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs and Chief of Policy under the Lee Myung-bak administration.