[Yongsan Report] Yoon Sees Off Lee Gwan-seop... BGM is "My Way"

Farewell Ceremony for Former Chief Secretary, Staff Send-Off with Songs
Presidential Office Choir Sings Favorite Song 'Warm Hands'

President Yoon Suk-yeol is seeing off Chief Secretary Lee Gwan-seop, who is leaving the Presidential Office Building in Yongsan, Seoul, after the farewell and inauguration ceremony for Chief Secretary Lee Gwan-seop's retirement and Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok's appointment held on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

"Yes, it was my way (Geuraeyo, ige naega georeoon insaeng-ieyo)"

On the late afternoon of the 23rd, a grand harmony of male and female voices echoed from the Jeonghyeon Hall of the Presidential Office to the press room. The Presidential Office choir, "Warm Hands," sang Frank Sinatra's "My Way," a favorite song of President Yoon Seok-yeol and former Chief Secretary Lee Gwan-seop, who was leaving after taking responsibility for the general election defeat.

Jeonghyeon Hall serves as the main entrance of the Presidential Office, the passageway for staff to come to work, and the central hall where foreign dignitaries are welcomed. It was once a space where door-stepping events took place. On this day, the hall was packed with aides for the retirement ceremony. Although he resigned taking responsibility for the April 10 general election defeat, former Chief Secretary Lee had been a steadying presence for the Presidential Office staff, from administrative workers to senior aides, and many gathered to see him off on his final walk.

A Presidential Office official who attended the event said, "The Presidential Office is a place where employees dispatched from various ministries and aides from different affiliations come together," adding, "Many staff members came out to bid farewell as a sign of their commitment to prioritize harmony and contribute more to state affairs over the next three years."

The channel through which former Chief Secretary Lee actively communicated with the aides was the choir "Warm Hands." Since its launch in November last year, he served as the choir leader, leading rehearsals and performances despite his busy schedule. He is known to enjoy singing regularly.

The choir, composed of about 25 Presidential Office employees, performs at official and unofficial events. In this year's New Year's greeting video, the choir sang "Uriui Sarangi Piryohangeojyo" ("Our Love Is Needed") by Byun Jin-sub together with President Yoon, drawing attention. On the 4th, reporters and Presidential Office staff witnessed the choir passionately singing Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" in the Presidential Office auditorium. It is said that the choir practices each part under the evaluation and guidance of a current music university professor, with the piano accompaniment played by the daughter of Yoon Hyung-ju, a member of the legendary Korean folk group Sseseebong.

A member of the Presidential Office choir said, "Although the mood has been down due to the general election defeat, this is a new beginning," adding, "Since internal harmony in the Presidential Office is important, we will strive to create opportunities for aides to communicate actively."