Lee Jae-myung, the president, on the 28th approved the resignations of Ha Jung-woo, senior secretary for AI future planning at the Blue House, and Spokesperson Jeon Eun-su. Senior Secretary Ha and Spokesperson Jeon will each run as Democratic Party of Korea candidates in the parliamentary by-elections for Busan Buk-gap and Asan in South Chungcheong, which will be held alongside the June 3 local elections. The party leadership plans to announce their recruitment on the 29th in the form of a talent intake event.
According to Blue House Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Lee said to Ha that day that "I respect the difficult decision" and readily accepted the resignation. Lee also said, "Wherever and whatever work you do, I hope you will play a role for the state and the people." Lee also completed approval that day of the voluntary resignation of Vice Minister Kim Seong-beom of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF).
Buk-gap, where Ha is running, became vacant when Democratic Party lawmaker Chun Jae-soo ran for Busan mayor. In the last general election, it was the only one of Busan's 18 districts that a Democratic Party candidate won. Chun served three consecutive terms there. Park Min-sik, former Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from the People Power Party, and Han Dong-hoon, former People Power Party leader running as an independent, have declared their bids. Lee, who calls Ha "my HaGPT," counts him as an aide trusted enough to be tasked with leading the AI government control tower.
Asan-eun became vacant when Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik resigned his parliamentary seat. Spokesperson Jeon ran in Ulsan Nam-gap in the last general election and lost. Jeon later served as deputy spokesperson at the Blue House and was promoted to spokesperson early this month. Meeting with reporters on the morning of the day, Spokesperson Jeon said, "I have been working on state affairs alongside the president, and now I will communicate on the front line and inform the public well of things that are not distorted."
Ha also said, "When I first entered the Blue House, I said I wanted to build a country where children have opportunities for the future and growth," adding, "I will be doing something new going forward, and whatever that is, I will be working for the state and the national interest." Ha also said, "Aiming for the top three in AI, the president created the unprecedented post of AI senior secretary and supported me greatly for 10 months," adding, "the president also sent me off with a smile."