Yoon Personally Introduces New Chief of Civil Affairs Kim Juhyun
"Public Sentiment Listening Function Was Too Weak," He Explains
"If There Is a Judicial Risk, I Will Handle It"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is introducing Kim Joo-hyun, former Deputy Minister of Justice, who was appointed as the new Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol has established the position of Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs in the Presidential Office and appointed former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Joo-hyun (63, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 18) to the post. President Yoon emphasized that reviving the previously abolished Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office is "for the people" and stated that he will personally resolve any judicial risks raised against him without going through the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.
On the morning of the 7th, President Yoon personally announced the appointment of former Deputy Minister Kim as the new Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the briefing room of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul. President Yoon introduced Kim by saying, "We have decided to establish the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office this time. The new Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, Kim Joo-hyun, will take charge."
Previously, after winning the last presidential election, President Yoon abolished the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs position, citing past abuses where the office oversaw investigative agencies and interfered in investigations. However, following the defeat in the April 10 general election, there was a strong call to strengthen public sentiment listening, leading to a reversal in his stance toward reinstating the office.
President Yoon also took questions while introducing Kim.
Regarding the reason for reviving the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office, he said, "When I started politics in July 2021, I told Munhwa Ilbo in an interview that if I became president, I would not establish the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office, and I have maintained that stance. However, the function of listening to public sentiment was too weak, and I received a lot of advice from editorials and those around me."
He continued, "Because civil affairs were not functioning properly, I also agonized over it. Former President Kim Dae-jung, concerned about dysfunction, only kept the Legal Secretary’s office but eventually restored the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office two years after his inauguration. I also thought it would be better to restore the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office."
He added, "When I met with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, last time, the opposition delegation also pointed out the need for a function to listen to public sentiment. They said frontline public sentiment was not being conveyed to the president and mentioned the restoration of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs office."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is answering questions from reporters while introducing Kim Joo-hyun, former Deputy Minister of Justice, who has been appointed as the new Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Regarding criticism from the opposition that appointing a former prosecutor as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs is an attempt to 'control investigative agencies' or 'defend special prosecutors,' President Yoon emphasized, "It was established for the people."
President Yoon said, "Previously, there was talk about the need for a secretary to coordinate between public service discipline and legal affairs because the Chief of Staff is not a legal expert. Although it is called public sentiment information, it ultimately involves collecting and handling information. In our country and worldwide, departments handling information are led by legal experts to ensure that the information is managed within the framework of the rule of law."
In particular, President Yoon said, "Therefore, in past administrations, most Senior Secretaries for Civil Affairs have been legal experts, mostly former prosecutors. If there is a judicial risk, it is a matter I must handle. If there are issues raised about me, I should explain and resolve them myself; I do not think it is the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs’ job," he added.
In his remarks, Senior Secretary Kim said, "There have been criticisms that the function of listening to public sentiment is insufficient, so I will do my best to listen to public sentiment frankly and ensure it is reflected in state affairs. Since the duties of public service discipline and the Legal Secretary’s office will be transferred, if there are inconveniences or problems experienced by the people at various policy sites, I will make sure they are well reflected in state affairs."
Newly appointed Senior Secretary Kim was born in Seoul and graduated from Seorabeol High School and Seoul National University Law School. After completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute as class 18, he began his career as a prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in 1989. He served in key positions at the Ministry of Justice, including Director of the Planning and Coordination Office and Director of the Prosecutor’s Office. In February 2015, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and in December of the same year, served as Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.
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