'Singer Park Jinyoung' Nominated as Chair of Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange... New Senior Secretary for Personnel Affairs Established

President Lee Jaemyung Announces Additional Appointments
Attorney Wi Cheolhwan Nominated as Central Election Commission Candidate
Lee Seokyeon, Former Minister of Government Legislation, Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister-Level Chair of the Presidential Committee on National Integration
Kim Jinae, Former National Assembly Member, Nominated as Ministerial-Level Chair of the National Architecture Policy Committee
Cho Seongju, Head of the Korea Legislation Research Institute, Appointed as Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs

J.Y. Park, Chief Creative Officer and Chief Producer of JYP Entertainment, Yonhap News

President Lee Jaemyung has established the new position of Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs and appointed Cho Seongju, head of the Korea Legislation Research Institute, to the role. Singer Park Jinyoung has been nominated as the chairperson of the newly created ministerial-level Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange. In addition, attorney Wi Cheolhwan has been nominated as a candidate for the Central Election Commission, while Lee Seokyeon, former Minister of Government Legislation, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Presidential Committee on National Integration, a position equivalent to Deputy Prime Minister. Former National Assembly member Kim Jinae has been nominated as chairperson of the National Architecture Policy Committee.

On September 9, Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, announced at a briefing at the Presidential Office in Yongsan that the new position of Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs had been established and that Cho Seongju, head of the Korea Legislation Research Institute, had been nominated for the post. Kang stated, "Nominee Cho is a personnel affairs expert who has served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Management and as a standing member of the Appeals Commission. He has a deep understanding of personnel policy and a strong awareness of issues within the public sector. We expect him to foster a public service culture that is dedicated to serving the people and delivering results."

Kang explained that the background for creating the new personnel secretary position was related to the special prosecutor's investigation, stating, "Allegations of personnel intervention involving First Lady Kim Keonhee and others are coming to light." He emphasized, "How we reform the personnel system left by the previous administration is a very important issue for us." He added, "Over the past 100 days, we have determined that a comprehensive approach to talent recruitment is necessary, and the Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs should take on that role."

Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, is announcing appointments at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

With this reorganization, the number of senior secretaries at the Presidential Office will increase from seven to eight. Kang noted, "The number of secretaries may decrease," adding, "We will report as soon as decisions are finalized."

Wi Cheolhwan, nominated as a candidate for the Central Election Commission, is a legal professional with over 30 years of experience, having served as the first directly elected president of the Korean Bar Association, president of the Gyeonggi Central Bar Association, and auditor of the Press Arbitration Commission. Kang explained, "He is the right person to protect democratic procedures from indiscriminate conspiracy theories that deny elections and to build a Central Election Commission trusted by the public."

President Lee has nominated Park Jinyoung, CEO of JYP Entertainment, alongside Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyoung, as chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, which is currently undergoing regulatory review. Kang stated, "Park is one of Korea's representative singers who has worked tirelessly for the globalization of K-pop. We expect that people around the world will enjoy our popular culture even more, and that we, in turn, will experience diverse cultures abroad, contributing to a flourishing cultural landscape in Korea."

From the left, Candidate for the Central Election Commission Wi Cheolhwan, Former Minister of Government Legislation and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Integration Lee Seokyeon, Former Member of the National Assembly and Chairman of the National Architecture Policy Committee Kim Jinae, Co-Chairman of the Committee on Popular Culture Exchange and CEO Producer of JYP Entertainment Park Jinyoung, Senior Personnel Secretary at the Presidential Office and Chairman of the Korea Legislation Research Institute Cho Seongju. Yonhap News

Lee Seokyeon, former Minister of Government Legislation, has been nominated as chairperson of the Presidential Committee on National Integration, a position equivalent to Deputy Prime Minister. Lee is a legal expert who has served as a researcher at the Constitutional Court, Secretary General of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, and Minister of Government Legislation during the Lee Myungbak administration. Kang said, "In line with the President's vision of uniting all citizens, he will play a role in bringing people together and healing social divisions."

Kim Jinae, former member of the National Assembly, has been nominated as chairperson of the National Architecture Policy Committee, a position equivalent to a minister. Kang stated, "Kim is an expert who has served as a specialist for the Seoul Metropolitan Government and as a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. She will add expertise and practicality to national architectural policy by reviewing key policies, including the basic plan for architectural policy."

Kang added, "(President Lee) has repeatedly emphasized the vision of a nation united as one, a nation where culture flourishes, and a nation that grows through pragmatism. He has called on public officials to serve as the President's eyes and ears, to closely observe the field, to boldly pursue changes previously unimagined, and to play a pivotal role in overcoming limitations."