Presidential Office to Establish 'Second Secretariat' to Assist Mrs. Kim... "Reflecting the Will of the People" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who attended the 75th anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are seen greeting as they disembark from Air Force One, their exclusive aircraft, upon returning home through Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 12th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office has begun reorganizing its structure to establish a Second Secretariat to officially assist First Lady Kim Keon-hee's activities. This is interpreted as an intention to manage Kim's activities and reduce the burden on state administration.

A Presidential Office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 30th and explained, "We have started revising the organizational regulations for the (Second Secretariat)," adding, "The President also mentioned during an interview that he would consider it. He has made the final decision to establish the Second Secretariat if the public desires it."

The Second Secretariat is a department dedicated to assisting with the First Lady's schedule and messages.

Previously, during his presidential campaign, President Yoon pledged to reduce presidential powers by abolishing the Second Secretariat. However, after the government was launched, various suspicions and incidents related to the First Lady emerged, leading voices inside and outside the party and the Presidential Office to call for the reestablishment of the Second Secretariat.

In response, the Presidential Office stated in January, "If the majority of the public thinks it is good, we will consider establishing it," and President Yoon also said in a New Year's interview in February, "We are reviewing the Second Secretariat."

Recently, during the People Power Party leadership election, all candidates agreed on the necessity of establishing the Second Secretariat. For example, party leader candidate Han Dong-hoon said at the time, "We should not delay the Second Secretariat any longer."

Jang Soon-chil, Secretary for Civil Society 2 at the Senior Secretary's Office for Civil Society, is reportedly the leading candidate for the head of the Second Secretariat. Secretary Jang previously served as an aide to People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yang-su. He was promoted from Senior Administrative Officer at the Public Sympathy Secretary's Office of the Presidential Office to Secretary at the Senior Secretary's Office for Civil Society at the end of last year.

The Presidential Office's acceleration in establishing the Second Secretariat is interpreted as an intention to actively manage risks going forward, given that suspicions such as the First Lady's luxury handbag receipt allegations are burdening state administration.

Currently, the 'Spouse Team' assisting the First Lady is known to consist of 4 to 5 members. The Second Secretariat is expected to be formed based on this team.

Regarding the Special Inspector position, which has been vacant for eight years, the Presidential Office stated, "The recommendation of the Special Inspector is the responsibility of the National Assembly," adding, "The Presidential Office's position is to appoint whenever the National Assembly makes a recommendation."

The Special Inspector is a public official who inspects misconduct by the President's relatives and other special relations. Although the position has been in place since 2014, it has remained vacant since 2016 when former Special Inspector Lee Seok-soo resigned during the Park Geun-hye administration.