"Crossfire" in the "Hunsik Hyung, Hyunji Noona" Controversy: "I Was Caught in the Middle"
Opposition Demands Resignation... "It Should Be Kim Hyunji, Not Kim Namguk, Who Steps Down"
Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Secretariat, is organizing documents while attending the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Presidential Office on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim Hyunji, Chief of the First Secretariat at the Presidential Office, has stated that she has no connection to the "Hyunji Nuna" mentioned in the Telegram messages exchanged between Moon Jinseok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Namguk, former Digital Communications Secretary at the Presidential Office, regarding a request for the appointment of a private association head at the National Assembly plenary session.
On the 4th, Kim Hyunji told The Chosun Ilbo over the phone, regarding the controversy over "Hunsik Hyung, Hyunji Nuna," that "I was caught in the crossfire." She emphasized that she has no involvement in this incident and that she was dragged into the controversy solely because of the messages exchanged between former Secretary Kim and Assemblyman Moon Jinseok, despite having no connection to them.
When asked whether she holds actual personnel authority at the Presidential Office, Kim replied, "Oh, that's not true." Regarding Kim Namguk's resignation on the 4th amid the controversy, she said, "I saw the news break while we were having the Senior Secretary Meeting presided over by the President." She added that she did not know Kim would offer his resignation. Kim Hyunji commented, "It's a very unfortunate situation for everyone. That's why this position is difficult. One must always be careful with words and actions."
Meanwhile, the opposition party is strongly pressuring Kim Hyunji to resign. Choi Eunseok, Senior Spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary the previous day, "If they think the personnel manipulation issue has been resolved, that's a clear misconception," adding, "The resignation of Kim Namguk announced by the Presidential Office is nothing more than a classic scapegoating tactic to quell public anger."
Assemblyman Kim Jaeseop also wrote on his social media, "The main figure behind the personnel manipulation is Kim Hyunji, so why is Kim Namguk resigning and Moon Jinseok apologizing?" He added, "Kim Namguk being forced out instead of Kim Hyunji feels like the crown prince being punished on behalf of someone else, which is regrettable."
Lee Donghun, Senior Spokesperson for the Reform Party, also commented, "This is a familiar scapegoating move. It's an old tactic to downplay the issue and simply buy time," emphasizing, "The core of this matter is not Kim Namguk, but Kim Hyunji."
Kim Hyunji first became acquainted with President Lee Jaemyung in March 1998 through former Justice Party lawmaker Park Wonseok, who was active in a civic group at the time. At that time, President Lee was serving as an executive committee member of the "Seongnam Citizens' Group." Over the past 28 years, she has been one of President Lee's longest-serving close associates in the Seongnam and Gyeonggi regions. After President Lee took office in June, Kim was appointed as the Secretary for General Affairs, managing personnel and budget matters at the Presidential Office. Subsequently, as concerns arose that she was involved in appointments of ministers and vice ministers, she moved to her current position as Chief of the First Secretariat in September.
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