Presidential Office Plans to Quickly Fill Vacancies Through Dispatch Requests
Presidential Office 'Eogong' Staff Refuse to Resign... Still Receiving Salaries
On the evening of June 11, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik visited a Presidential Office staff member who had collapsed during work. The previous day, at around 9 p.m., a staff member in his 40s from the Presidential Office collapsed while on duty and was transported to the hospital. This staff member, who was dispatched from the National Tax Service and affiliated with the Office of Civil Affairs, was supporting personnel verification tasks. According to the Presidential Office, it is known that around 80 special appointees hired by the previous administration have neither submitted their resignations nor reported to work.
On June 12, Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yoojeong stated during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, "The staff member in question had been dispatched to the Presidential Office to handle personnel verification tasks." She added, "Although the new administration, which launched without a transition committee, is facing a severe shortage of personnel and time for personnel verification, we will do our utmost to fulfill our responsibilities and find the best possible talent." It was reported that the staff member has regained consciousness and is scheduled to undergo a thorough medical examination.
The Presidential Office of the new administration, which was launched without a transition committee, is suffering from a serious manpower shortage. A Presidential Office official said, "Among those who returned to their ministries last month, many are in situations where it is difficult for them to come back, and about 80 'occasional public officials' (Eogong) are also refusing to resign." The official added, "In the case of these Eogong staff, it is said that they continue to receive their salaries even though they are not performing any duties."
Earlier, President Lee Jaemyung expressed his "deep regret and a heavy sense of responsibility" regarding the incident in which a Presidential Office staff member collapsed from overwork. Through his Facebook page, President Lee said, "I have just heard the news that a staff member at the Presidential Office has collapsed from overwork. Please do not worry about your work and focus solely on recovering your health."
President Lee emphasized, "While fulfilling the mission given to you as a public servant for the people is important, what matters most is your health and safety." He earnestly urged, "Please take care of yourselves first."
President Lee also stated, "The President alone cannot achieve results. Only when public officials work together with one heart and combine their efforts can we create a better future for the people." He continued, "To all the Presidential Office staff and public officials in each ministry who are fulfilling their duties in their respective positions, I sincerely thank you. I express my respect for your hard work and dedication."
Since the 21st presidential election was held as a by-election, President Lee has been working intensively from the moment of his inauguration to minimize any administrative vacuum. On his first day in office, June 4, he worked late into the night, presiding over an emergency economic task force (TF) meeting, and the following day, he had only a single roll of gimbap for lunch while continuing an intense meeting for nearly four hours.
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