Political Circles Stir Over Jeong Jin-seok's Appointment as New Chief Secretary: "Ignoring Public Sentiment" VS "The Right Person for Communication"

Park Jumin "Communication with the opposition party is unlikely to change"
Kwon Young-se "A person who knows how to judge communication well"

President Yoon Suk-yeol's appointment of Jeong Jin-seok, a member of the People Power Party, as the new Chief of Staff has drawn harsh criticism from the opposition party, which called him "a core pro-Yoon figure who will spark political strife instead of cooperation." The ruling party defended him as "the right person for communication," but some expressed skepticism about political unity, questioning whether the appointment of a 'pro-Yoon faction' member signals a continued insistence on one-way politics as seen over the past two years.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is introducing People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok (right in the photo), who was appointed as the new Chief Presidential Secretary, during a personnel briefing held at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Ju-min, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 23rd and said, "Chief of Staff Jeong has consistently shown hostile remarks toward the opposition, so I find it hard to expect significant changes in communication with the opposition."

Park added, "Jeong is known to be very strong-willed and not someone who easily changes his mind," and noted, "Most conservative daily newspapers also seem to evaluate that he is not a figure suited for communication."

On the same day, Woo Won-shik, a Democratic Party lawmaker, criticized on YTN Radio's 'News King,' saying, "President Yoon seems to have failed to properly read public sentiment even in this general election," and added, "Appointing Jeong as Chief of Staff just one day after announcing plans for a summit meeting with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung reflects President Yoon's weak politics lacking reflection and remorse."

Woo said, "Jeong made offensive remarks toward the late President Roh Moo-hyun and is also involved in controversies regarding pro-Japanese descendants, so I question whether he can be called a figure for smooth communication with the opposition," and emphasized, "From the perspective of the entire Democratic Party, the offensive remarks toward President Roh are absolutely unacceptable."

Within the ruling party, the new Chief of Staff is being evaluated as "the right person for communication." Ahn Cheol-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker, said in an interview with SBS Radio's Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show, "If Jeong had poor relations with both the president and the opposition, how could he mediate? He must have a close relationship with at least one side to have autonomy when negotiating with the opposition."

On the same day, Kwon Young-se, a People Power Party lawmaker, said in an interview with KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa,' "Jeong is experienced. It's not just about having a lot of experience," and evaluated, "He knows how to judge when to communicate with the ruling party, when with the opposition, or even simultaneously."

Yoo Sang-bum, a People Power Party lawmaker, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "Including his career as a political reporter, Jeong has been involved in the National Assembly and politics for over 30 years and served as a five-term lawmaker," adding, "He has served as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and played a role in communication and mediation with the opposition." He further stated, "Since he has had a long political career, concerns about the vertical relationship between the party and the government can be alleviated," and evaluated, "He will be able to convey the party's position more accurately to the president." Regarding the opposition's rejection due to Jeong's 'defamation of the late President Roh Moo-hyun,' Yoo drew a line, saying, "Even if such criticisms exist, he is capable as a political-type Chief of Staff."

However, negative views about Jeong also emerged within the ruling party. Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, posted on his Facebook immediately after Jeong's appointment was announced, claiming, "The People Power Party has been turned into a private faction under the power of Yongsan," and called it "a declaration of war against the public, insisting on one-way politics as in the past two years."