[Yongsan Report] "No Personnel Verification Done..." Yongsan in Turmoil Ahead of Cabinet Reshuffle

Minister of Science and ICT Successor Rumors Stir Controversy
Presidential Office Staff Also Transferring Departments

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a press conference on the morning of the 9th at the briefing room of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul to mark the second anniversary of his inauguration, announcing a cabinet reshuffle.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

"He did not even verify the personnel. It's awkward."

As President Yoon Suk-yeol plans to carry out a cabinet reshuffle sequentially in mid-next month, the presidential office is showing reluctance regarding some of the long-serving ministers rumored to be replaced. When media reports repeatedly mentioned Park Seong-jung, former People Power Party lawmaker, as a strong candidate to succeed Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the office denied it, saying "It is not true."

The scientific community was the first to react sensitively when rumors about Park's strong candidacy for the Ministry of Science and ICT surfaced. One official pointed out, "Appointing Park, a 23rd civil service exam passer who has served as a Seoul city official and Seocho District Mayor, and is close to an administrative expert, as the head shows a complete disregard for the sentiments of the scientific community."

Besides Minister Lee, Minister Han Hwa-jin of the Ministry of Environment and Minister Lee Jeong-sik of the Ministry of Employment and Labor are also targets for the reshuffle. Kim Ju-hyun, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, who took office in July 2022 and is about to complete two years, is also likely to be replaced. However, Minister Cho Gyu-hong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who face replacement risks due to urgent issues such as medical reform, are virtually confirmed to remain. Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who expressed his intention to resign immediately after the general election, is also likely to stay for the time being considering the difficulty of parliamentary approval for a successor in the current 'minority government' situation.

Not only at the ministerial level, but also many presidential office aides from the 'Neul-gong' (career bureaucrats) background are about to be transferred to their respective ministries. Following Kim Jong-moon's promotion to First Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination yesterday, personnel verification procedures are underway for Go Deuk-young, Secretary for Health and Welfare; Kim Seong-seop, Secretary for Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups; Yeon Won-jeong, Secretary for Personnel Systems; and Park Beom-su, Secretary for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. A presidential office official hinted, "The intention is to send back the 'ace' aides who were dispatched to the presidential office to their respective ministries to gain momentum for the third year of government and to tighten public service discipline."

President Yoon is also in the final stages of appointing the newly established Low Birthrate Secretary early next month. With the final candidate pool expanded to '4 people + α,' personnel verification is being conducted with the highest priority given to female officials balancing work and childcare. A senior presidential office official said regarding the Low Birthrate Secretary, "The appointment will be possible before the cabinet reshuffle next month."