Will Kang Hunsik Avoid the "Unfortunate Relationship with Teeth" as Chief of Staff? [AK Radio]

Many Former Chiefs of Staff Have Lost Teeth
Kang Hunsik Recently Started Taking Gum Supplements

Kang Hunsik, the new Chief of Staff to the President, has started taking gum supplements. This is because he has often heard from those around him, "Many Chiefs of Staff end up losing their teeth, so take care of your health in advance." Kang's concerns are not unfounded. There are several cases that illustrate the "unfortunate relationship between Chiefs of Staff and their teeth," which stems from overwork and stress.

Kang Hunsik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has been nominated as the Chief of Staff to the President, is attending the 21st Presidential Inauguration Ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 4. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The case of former President Moon Jaein is a prime example. While serving as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Chief of Staff at the Blue House, Moon had ten teeth extracted. It is known that he had one more tooth removed while serving as the leader of the opposition party, resulting in a total of eleven dental implants. In his autobiography "Destiny," Moon wrote, "The funny thing is, starting with me, the higher the rank, the more teeth were pulled. We used to joke that this was definite proof of a correlation with the job." This suggests that many other staff members working at the Blue House at the time also had teeth removed. It shows just how much work and stress they endured.

Im Jongseok, who served as the first Chief of Staff during Moon Jaein's presidency, also had six teeth extracted and replaced with implants during his 1 year and 7 months in office. Noh Youngmin, who succeeded Im as Chief of Staff, also had several teeth removed.

In presidential systems, the Chief of Staff is not a mere secretary. The position is commonly referred to as the "second most powerful person" in government, indicating just how much influence it carries. In the Lee Jaemyung administration, there are four minister-level positions in the Presidential Office: the Chief of Staff, the National Security Advisor, the Policy Chief, and the Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs and National Security. The working style of the Chief of Staff varies depending on the individual. Some focus on supporting the president from behind the scenes, earning the nickname "shadow type," while others are called "kingmaker type" due to their real influence. There are also "communicator type" Chiefs of Staff who excel at liaising with the National Assembly. At times, there are "political type" Chiefs of Staff who are not afraid to speak candidly to the president. What all these types have in common is that they must oversee the entire staff, making the job extremely demanding. Sometimes, they must also serve as a "shield," fending off attacks from the National Assembly during events such as parliamentary audits.

Will Kang Hunsik be an exception to the "unfortunate relationship between Chiefs of Staff and their teeth"?

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