Yoon Keeps Distance from Na Kyung-won Incident... Won't Accept Resignation Until Lunar New Year Holiday

Next Week's Overseas Trip Followed by Lunar New Year Holiday... Possibility of Ten-Day Wrap-Up
Presidential Office "Disappointed by Resignation Over National Tasks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The presidential office has fallen silent following the resignation announcement of Na Kyung-won, Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee. Initially, the office denied Na's resignation itself, but the next day, Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi acknowledged the resignation via text message. The aides have also become tight-lipped. Since President Yoon Seok-yeol will embark on an eight-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting on the 14th, and with the Lunar New Year holidays following, it is interpreted as an intention to distance from party affairs.

According to political circles on the 12th, President Yoon received the resignation notice from Vice Chairperson Na but did not express any separate stance. A presidential office official also repeatedly stated in response to questions about whether the president had approved the resignation, "There is nothing special to say. There is nothing more to add."

Seoul Yongsan-gu Presidential Office Building exterior.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The day before, the presidential office responded to the question, "Is it the office's position that the personnel authority's judgment is necessary to complete the resignation procedure?" by saying, "This is a natural matter not only for Vice Chairperson Na but for all personnel procedures," adding, "When all personnel submit their resignation letters, they go through the Ministry of Personnel Innovation, and the president's approval is required," providing a fundamental answer.

However, the presidential office's concerns about this situation are clearly revealed. The presidential direct agency responsible for addressing one of the Yoon administration's core national tasks?low birthrate and aging society?faces an operational crisis over policy direction just three months after the vice chairperson's appointment. Moreover, the president's stance itself could influence the party convention.

Interpretation That They Are Trying to Prevent Candidacy in the Party Convention
"Disappointment Over Resignation Before Properly Addressing Low Birthrate Issues"
Na Kyung-won's Official Activity Resumption as a Variable

In political circles, there is an interpretation that the presidential office is trying to delay Vice Chairperson Na's resignation as much as possible to prevent her from running in the party convention. If President Yoon were to immediately dismiss Vice Chairperson Na, it would rather open the path for her candidacy. Former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in recently appeared on a radio broadcast and interpreted that the president's appointment of former lawmaker Na as vice chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee was a message of "Do not run in the party convention."

Within the presidential office, there are also criticisms that Na is trying to engage in self-politics instead of properly performing the political position entrusted by the president. Another presidential office official said, "The direct cause of the situation was publicly presenting a policy direction different from the Yoon administration's stance to the public," adding, "In the long term, there is also disappointment that she resigned before properly addressing the low birthrate and aging society issues, which are intertwined with the three major reforms."

Because of this, it is highly likely that President Yoon will postpone making a decision for the time being. He will embark on an eight-day overseas trip starting on the 14th, followed immediately by the Lunar New Year holidays, so there is ample time. For the president, this means avoiding criticism of interfering in political affairs and giving both Vice Chairperson Na and the party time to coordinate.

However, the fact that Vice Chairperson Na ended her hiatus and resumed official activities from the day before is a variable. She attended the New Year's meetings at Dongjak District Office and the People Power Party Seoul City Party, repeatedly emphasizing the success of the Yoon administration and making efforts to resolve conflicts with the presidential office. Vice Chairperson Na told the media, "Please do not create a rift between me and the presidential office," adding, "I only submitted my resignation because some of my thoughts were distorted in various ways." Regarding whether she will run in the party convention, she said, "I will think about it more," and "I have not decided yet," withholding her answer. On that day, Vice Chairperson Na is expected to deliberate intensely on her candidacy without any public schedule.