President Lee Accepts Oh Kwangsoo's Resignation as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs
High-Ranking Official Steps Down Just 10 Days After Launch of New Administration
Presidential Office: "Successor to Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs to Be Appointed Soon"
Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, announced the appointments of the Senior Secretaries for Political Affairs, Public Relations, and Civil Affairs at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 8th. From left to right: Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs; Chief of Staff Kang; Oh Kwangsoo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs; Lee Gyuyon, Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication. Photo by Yonhap News
President Lee Jaemyung has accepted the resignation of Oh Kwangsoo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Presidential Office, who was embroiled in allegations of borrowing under borrowed names and managing real estate assets under borrowed names. Less than a week after his appointment on the 8th, Oh became the first high-ranking official in the Lee administration to step down.
Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, held a briefing on the 13th and stated, "Oh Kwangsoo, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, tendered his resignation to President Lee Jaemyung last night." She explained, "President Lee accepted Oh's resignation, taking into account the importance of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, who is responsible for establishing discipline among public officials and conducting personnel vetting." She added, "The Presidential Office deeply understands President Lee's commitment to judicial reform and his governing philosophy, and will appoint a successor to the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs as soon as possible, ensuring the new appointee is aligned with these principles."
During his time as a prosecutor, Oh entrusted real estate owned by his wife to an acquaintance, Mr. A, for nominal ownership and management. When he was promoted to chief prosecutor in 2012, he became subject to public disclosure of assets, but did not disclose the real estate in question. After leaving the prosecution, he filed a lawsuit and regained ownership, but controversy arose over whether Oh had deliberately concealed the property to avoid registering it as an asset.
Regarding these facts, Oh expressed that he felt "deeply sorry and ashamed" and admitted to "many faults," but did not offer his resignation. The Presidential Office also drew a line regarding Oh's potential resignation. On the 11th, an official from the Presidential Office stated, "We believe there was some inappropriate conduct," and added, "We believe he has adequately expressed his regret regarding this matter." The official continued, "Although there was inappropriate conduct, did he not already express his regret about that part?"
However, the situation changed rapidly after reports emerged on the 12th that Oh had arranged a loan under a borrowed name for the benefit of a major shareholder of a savings bank. In November 2007, while serving as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Special Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Oh asked Mr. A to take out a loan of 1.5 billion KRW using real estate in his wife's name as collateral. Oh also provided Mr. A with a written statement confirming "I used the entire loan amount," but in reality, it was closer to a "loan name lending" on behalf of Mr. B, a major shareholder of B Savings Bank, who was an acquaintance of Oh.
As calls from the opposition for Oh's resignation grew, it is reported that on the 12th, Oh decided to resign, judging that his continued presence could become a burden for the new administration. A Presidential Office official commented, "Oh expressed his intention to resign out of concern that he might become a burden to the administration, and it was subsequently accepted."
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