[Lee Jaemyung's Power Man] Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik: "I've Already Lost 5kg" [AK Radio]

Gave Up Third Term in National Assembly to Become Chief Presidential Secretary
Leading Figure of the Democratic Party's '97 Group'
Consistently Mentioned as a Potential Candidate for South Chungcheong Governor Next Year

There has never been a case where a three-term incumbent lawmaker resigned from the National Assembly to become the Chief Presidential Secretary. Kang Hoonshik is the only one. The Chief Presidential Secretary, a minister-level position, is the key aide who supports the President at the forefront of state affairs. This role not only influences the President's schedule, major appointments, policy implementation, and coordination of government ministries, but also carries overall management responsibility for the presidential office.

Recently, remarks shared by Park Jumin, a Democratic Party lawmaker and friend of Kang, have attracted attention. According to Park, when he asked Kang, who accompanied President Lee Jaemyung to the National Assembly for a policy speech, "How are you doing?" Kang replied, "I'm dying. I've lost 5kg in just a month." This illustrates the intensity of the workload in the presidential office. Many previous Chiefs of Staff have suffered tooth loss from the demanding work and had to get dental implants, so Kang is currently taking supplements for gum health.

Kang was born in 1973 in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. He graduated from Myungseok High School in Daejeon and studied Management Information Systems at Konkuk University, where he also served as the president of the student council. After graduation, he founded the company Shinhoon Fashion, producing and selling "Nosamo (a group that loves Roh Moo-hyun)" T-shirts, and launched the internet-based political party "Jeongjeongdangdang." He also served as co-representative of the 2030 Voters Network. Kang began to gain recognition in politics when he started as an aide to Gyeonggi Province Governor Sohn Hakkyu, distinguishing himself with his strategic planning and political judgment.

At age 34, in 2008, he ran as the Democratic Party candidate for the National Assembly in his hometown of Asan, South Chungcheong Province, but was defeated. In 2012, he failed to win the party primary. He then served as Special Political Advisor to Party Leader Sohn Hakkyu, visiting researcher at the State University of New York, and adjunct professor at Dongguk University. During this period, he gained attention for his calm and logical arguments on various TV programs, including cable news. He was elected to the National Assembly in 2016 from Asan-si-eul, South Chungcheong Province, and has since served three consecutive terms through the 22nd National Assembly.

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Kang is a leading figure of the Democratic Party's '97 Group (those born in the 1970s and who attended university in the 1990s). He has served as the representative of 'Better Future' within the Democratic Party, chair of the party's Strategy and Planning Committee, senior vice chair of the Policy Committee, and head of the South Chungcheong Provincial Party Committee. In 2022, he also ran for the party leadership. Kang is consistently mentioned as a potential candidate for Governor of South Chungcheong Province in next year's local elections. Whether he will run is expected to depend on the political situation early next year.