Jeon Hee-kyung Strongly Considered for Political Affairs Secretary 1... Reshuffling of Political Affairs Lineup

Searching for Successor Immediately After Predecessor's Resignation... "Appointment Expected to Be Announced Around the Weekend"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office is reportedly considering former lawmaker Jeon Hee-kyung as the leading candidate for the vacant position of Political Affairs Secretary 1.

According to the Presidential Office on the 2nd, Jeon is being strongly considered and is undergoing vetting for the role of Political Affairs Secretary 1. A Presidential Office official stated, "Jeon is currently being vetted," adding, "The appointment is expected to be announced around the weekend."

Jeon, a former policy director of the conservative civic group Barun Society Citizens' Meeting and former secretary-general of the Free Economy Foundation (now Free Enterprise Institute), entered the 20th National Assembly as a proportional representative for the Saenuri Party and served as the party spokesperson.

During the Moon Jae-in administration, she took a leading role in opposition battles, building an image as a 'female warrior.' In the 2017 National Assembly Audit of the National Assembly Steering Committee, she accused then-Chief Presidential Secretary Im Jong-seok of "the pro-Juche faction and the National Democratic Youth Union having taken control of the Blue House," and referred to then-Blue House foreign affairs and security special advisor Moon Jeong-in as a "North Korean spokesperson," making strong right-wing remarks.

In the 21st general election, she ran for the Incheon Dong-gu and Michuhol-gu Gap district but was defeated, and also challenged the Seoul Seocho Gap by-election.

If Jeon is finally appointed, she will become the third female secretary within the Yongsan Presidential Office, following Science and Technology Secretary Cho Sung-kyung and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Secretary Kim Jeong-hee.

Earlier, Jang Kyung-sang, secretary-general of the National Management Research Institute, was reportedly appointed as Political Affairs Secretary 2. Typically, Political Affairs Secretary 1 handles National Assembly-related tasks, while Political Affairs Secretary 2 is responsible for strategic planning.

Thus, following the effective dismissal of former secretaries Hong Ji-man and Gyeong Yun-ho on the 29th of last month, the new political affairs team has quickly taken shape within three days.