"Overcoming Obstacles is Destiny... Become the Frontline Ambassador"
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, held his first staff assembly since taking office on the morning of the 4th, emphasizing harmony and unity and urging everyone to "stick together tightly." As the Yoon Suk-yeol administration enters its third year, this is interpreted as an effort to reinforce 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 basement first 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 appointment in April that Jung gathered all staff for an assembly. During the assembly, three chiefs?Jung Jin-seok, Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office, and Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office?gave speeches, and the event lasted about 20 minutes.
First, Jung emphasized unity to the staff, saying, "We must stick together tightly." He stated, "We are in an extreme situation of a minority government with a hostile majority in the National Assembly, and although difficulties persist, it is the destiny and duty of the Presidential Office staff to overcome these challenges." He added, "Despite unprecedented political situations in constitutional history such as frequent impeachment motions, special investigations, and hearings, we all have the responsibility to unite with one heart and one mind to overcome this crisis."
He also urged the staff to "work diligently with a sense of mission as the Presidential Office is the government's control tower and produce 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 achieving policy outcomes that the public can feel as the administration enters its third year.
Jung explained, "The greatest achievements of the Yoon Suk-yeol government include putting South Korea back on a normal track by promoting a private-led market economy, sound fiscal management, trilateral economic security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, a robust security posture, restoration of the nuclear power ecosystem, and labor rule of law."
He continued, "All reforms inevitably face resistance," and emphasized, "Since policy and publicity play important roles in state administration, staff need to become frontline publicity warriors with a 'one voice' approach, making efforts and commitments to persuade the public of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s policies."
Jung Jin-seok: "I am not confident to tell the President to attend the National Assembly before it regains rationality"
Regarding President Yoon’s absence from the National Assembly opening ceremony, Jung said, "I told him not to go," and added, "I cannot tell the President to attend the opening ceremony. Until the National Assembly regains rationality and normalizes, I am not confident to advise the President to go to the National Assembly."
Jung questioned, "How can I tell the President to endure humiliation by going to a National Assembly filled with ridicule, jeers, and verbal abuse directed at him?" He criticized, "The Speaker of the National Assembly and opposition party leaders are neglecting this situation and taking no prior measures, effectively telling the President to come to the National Assembly and be humiliated."
Sung Tae-yoon: "We must return to our original intentions to see the fruition of national tasks"
Sung expressed gratitude to the staff who quietly fulfill their duties at the forefront of state affairs. He said, "Thank you for your hard work coming to work early every morning. I am grateful to work with you," and urged, "As we enter the third year of the government, please return to your original intentions and do your best to see the fruition of major national tasks."
Newly appointed Shin introduced, "The global security environment has changed over 80 years since World War II through three phases: the Cold War, post-Cold War, and intensified value-centered strategic competition," emphasizing, "In this context, the National Security Office must strive to realize peace through strength and fulfill its status and role as a global pivotal state."
He also expressed concern, saying, "Since the post-Cold War era, conditions have changed significantly, making the situation difficult," and added, "Supply chains are no longer what they used to be." He reportedly mentioned the need to prepare for an era where economic efficiency is not guaranteed.
The Presidential Office’s holding of a staff assembly to emphasize unity and performance signifies the challenging environment surrounding the office. This comes amid low approval ratings, sluggish progress on major reforms such as healthcare reform, and recent successive occurrences of opposition party offensives, ruling party conflicts, and personnel controversies.
The Presidential Office explained, "Today’s staff assembly was the first since Chief of Staff Jung took office. The previous assembly was held in September 2022 under former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi," adding, "It was organized to remind all Presidential Office staff of their mission and responsibility to ensure smooth implementation of national tasks and restore public trust."
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