The Presidential Office of South Korea announced on Dec. 3 the appointment of Kim Soo-kyung as its new spokesperson. Kim, who previously served as the presidential secretary for unification affairs, replaces Lee Do-woon following his promotion to Senior Secretary for Public Relations.
Kim said in a statement at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, “I will work hard to accurately deliver state affairs to the people without distortion.”
She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having started her career as a reporter for the Donga Ilbo, one of Korea’s leading newspapers. Kim further enhanced her expertise by obtaining a doctorate in sociology from Stanford University and has since been actively involved in researching North Korean human rights issues, holding positions at Korea University, the Ministry of Unification, and Hanshin University.
“As someone with a career in journalism and various experiences, we expect her to be an excellent media communication partner,” Kim said.
The appointment is part of a broader reshuffle in the Presidential Office, which saw the introduction of a Director of Policy role on Nov. 30 and the replacement of all senior secretaries. Alongside Kim, Cho Sang-myung, the presidential secretary for social integration, has been named secretary for state affairs monitoring, and Choi Jae-hyuk assumes the role of Secretary for Public Relations Planning.
Additionally, the Presidential Office is preparing to announce a new round of minister-nominees, ahead of the general election slated for next April. Under the Public Official Election Act, candidates are required to resign from their current public office roles by January 11th. At least seven ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, are expected to run for parliamentary seats, with Choi Sang-mok, the president’s former Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, likely to be nominated as Choo’s replacement.
The upcoming changes in the cabinet are anticipated to include vacancies in the Ministers for SMfEs, Infrastructure, and Science. Notably, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, a key figure in the Yoon Administration and close confidant to the President, is being closely watched for a potential political debut.
Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin is also under scrutiny, with the expectation that the new ministerial appointments will predominantly consist of scholars and experts in the respective fields.
These changes occur amidst a parliamentary review of the 2024 budget, which may cause delays in the key ministerial shifts due to the legal deadline for the review having passed on Dec. 1.