Rise of Key Insider in Yoon Government from Moon Administration's Rebel Faction
Unusual Appointment from Non-Finance Ministry and Non-Prosecutor Background
Trusted by Yoon as a 'Firefighter' Addressing Various Issues
Policy Mobilized to Solve High Inflation Impacting Livelihoods
Attention is focused on the career history and future moves of Director Lee Gwan-seop, who was promoted to the newly established Chief Policy Officer position. This is because President Yoon Suk-yeol reorganized the Presidential Office from a structure of 2 offices and 6 senior secretaries to 3 offices and 6 senior secretaries, and Lee was the only one among the six senior secretaries to remain in the Presidential Office and receive a promotion.
In particular, Director Lee is evaluated as having made a spectacular comeback, having resigned in 2018 in opposition to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy while serving as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, but later being selected by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to oversee various policies including economic, social, and scientific affairs.
According to the Presidential Office on the 2nd, Director Lee began his term as Chief Policy Officer, overseeing the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, and the soon-to-be-established Senior Secretary for Science and Technology, immediately after the personnel announcement on the 30th of last month.
He also directly oversees the offices previously under the Senior Secretary for National Planning, including National Planning, Policy Coordination, National Tasks, National Public Relations, and National Messaging Secretariat, thus performing a comprehensive role in policy formulation within the Presidential Office?excluding security and political affairs?as well as policy coordination with the government and policy promotion.
Director Lee Gwan-seop, an Unusual Key Figure in the Yoon Administration from Outside the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Prosecution
Lee Gwansub, the newly appointed Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office, is expressing his appointment remarks on the 30th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Director Lee, who is not from the Ministry of Economy and Finance or the prosecution, is considered an unusual case of holding a key position in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. President Yoon has so far appointed officials from financial and fiscal bureaucracies such as Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi, and Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok, as well as prosecution backgrounds like Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun and National Intelligence Service Planning and Coordination Director Kim Nam-woo to key posts.
On the other hand, Director Lee graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration and entered public service through the 27th Administrative Examination. He served as Director of Industrial Technology Policy at the Ministry of Industry and Resources, Director of Industrial Economic Policy and Director of Energy Resources at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Director of Industrial Policy and First Vice Minister at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, demonstrating expertise as a bureaucrat in the industrial and energy sectors. He was recognized for his policy coordination skills with the political sphere while serving as an administrative officer in the Presidential Secretariat during the Kim Young-sam administration, senior administrative officer in the Presidential Secretariat during the Lee Myung-bak administration, and senior specialist for the Grand National Party, which reportedly worked in his favor for his appointment as Senior Secretary for National Planning. After leaving public office, he also served as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, outside director at E-Mart and SKC, and full-time vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, earning a reputation for a high level of market understanding.
Presidential Office officials said that President Yoon's trust in Director Lee deepened during his one year and three months as Senior Secretary for National Planning. When controversy arose over the 69-hour workweek system in March of this year, Director Lee took over labor reform tasks from the Senior Secretary for Social Affairs and demonstrated outstanding performance. Additionally, during the impeachment trial of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min in December last year, Director Lee temporarily handled related tasks under the jurisdiction of the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs. He also played a key role as a 'firefighter' by directly communicating with organizations and groups during the Jamboree incident in August this year. He was responsible for major issues such as the Cargo Solidarity strike and investigations into illegal subsidies by civic groups.
Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi introduced Director Lee at the personnel announcement on the 30th, saying, "The new Chief Policy Officer has demonstrated excellent policy planning and coordination skills, successfully resolving major issues. He has a high level of insight into overall state affairs and is the right person to drive national tasks forward with strong momentum based on communication with various stakeholders."
However, the ruling party evaluates that he is not a yes-man who blindly complies. In January 2018, while serving as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Director Lee resigned with 1 year and 10 months left in his term in opposition to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy, which included the public debate on the permanent suspension of Shin-Kori Nuclear Units 5 and 6. He expressed opposition citing energy supply and nuclear export issues, but it is known that the Moon administration did not accept his views. At his retirement ceremony, he emphasized the unfairness of the nuclear phase-out policy, urging efforts to dispel unfounded and exaggerated fears by saying, "Please strive to alleviate any anxiety that is inflated and exaggerated without scientific belief in the safety of nuclear power generation."
Price Stability is the Top Priority... Lee: "Will Mobilize All Available Policies"
As the first Chief Policy Officer of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Director Lee plans to focus his capabilities on establishing price stabilization policies. This is because the issue of rising prices, caused by slower-than-expected export recovery and prolonged high interest rates and high exchange rates, is becoming prominent and could adversely affect people's livelihoods.
Especially in winter, energy consumption increases, so price issues could directly impact low-income households. The Bank of Korea forecasted in its report on June 1, "Comparison of Inflation Situations in Major Countries," that the slowdown in inflation rate decline may be slow due to rising oil and agricultural product prices and increases in public utility charges.
Moreover, with the ruling party and the Presidential Office being criticized for the failure to secure the 2030 Expo, it is expected to be difficult to gain momentum in next year's general election if the price issue is not controlled this winter. Accordingly, President Yoon and the government have been actively listening to public opinion for policy reflection through events such as the kimchi-making festival and national task review meetings since the 27th after the presidential tour.
Director Lee also emphasized right after his appointment as Chief Policy Officer on the 30th, "I will accelerate the implementation of the 120 national tasks and serve as a bridge with the party. Although various economic indicators are showing signs of recovery, people's livelihoods remain difficult. I will prioritize price stabilization and mobilize all available policies to achieve price stability."
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