Jung Jin-seok, Presidential Chief of Staff, Holds First Staff Meeting: "We Must Unite Closely"

Emphasizing Unity and Urging "We Must Deliver Results"
"I Told Them Not to Let Me Attend the National Assembly Opening Ceremony"

Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, is speaking at the High-Level Party-Government Council held on the 25th of last month at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, held his first staff assembly since taking office on the morning of the 4th, emphasizing harmony and unity, urging everyone to "stick together tightly." As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration enters its third year, this is interpreted as an effort to strengthen organizational discipline and encourage performance amid ongoing challenges such as fierce opposition from the major opposition party and declining approval ratings.

At 9 a.m. that day, Jung held the staff assembly in the large auditorium on the first basement floor of the Yongsan Presidential Office. About 500 staff members, including senior secretaries, secretaries, and administrative officers, attended. This was the first time since his inauguration in April that Jung gathered all staff for an assembly. During the approximately 20-minute session, Jung, Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, and National Security Chief Shin Won-sik each spoke.

Jung emphasized unity to the staff, saying, "We must stick together tightly." He also urged the staff, stating, "Since the Presidential Office is the government's control tower, everyone must work diligently with a sense of mission to achieve results," and "If there are difficulties, solutions must be proposed." This appears to be aimed at fostering a unified atmosphere ahead of the regular National Assembly session and producing policy outcomes that the public can feel as the administration enters its third year.

Regarding President Yoon’s absence from the National Assembly opening ceremony, Jung said, "I told him not to go," adding, "We are witnessing a National Assembly unlike any we have experienced before. We must once again strengthen our resolute will and produce results."

Policy Chief Sung also expressed appreciation, saying, "Thank you for working hard by coming to work early every morning. I am grateful to work together," and reportedly urged the promotion of policies. Newly appointed National Security Chief Shin expressed concerns, saying, "Since the post-Cold War era, conditions have changed significantly, making the situation difficult," and "the supply chain is no longer what it used to be." He emphasized, "We must prepare for an era where economic efficiency is no longer guaranteed."

The Presidential Office’s holding of a staff assembly to emphasize unity and performance indicates that the environment surrounding the office is challenging. The sluggish progress of major reforms such as healthcare reform amid low approval ratings, along with recent opposition party offensives, ruling party conflicts, and personnel controversies, appear to have influenced this decision.