President Lee Jae-myung on the 21st appointed Han Chan-sik, 58, former chief prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, as the new senior presidential secretary for civil affairs at Cheong Wa Dae. He also appointed Seong Ki-hong, 58, former president and CEO of Yonhap News Agency, and Kim Kyung-ja, 60, visiting professor at Woosuk University, as senior presidential secretaries for public communication and society, respectively.
Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced personnel appointments for five senior secretaries at the Chunchu-gwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae that day. Succeeding former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Bong Uk, the new senior secretary Han, who will lead the Lee Jae-myung administration's second-year prosecution reform effort, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in jurisprudence and completed a master's program at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. A 21st class graduate of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, Han served as director general for human rights at the Ministry of Justice, chief prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, and chief prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.
Both Senior Secretary Han and former Senior Secretary Bong came from KIM&CHANG. In legal circles, some said, "KIM&CHANG, the nation's largest law firm, has produced successive senior presidential secretaries for civil affairs in this administration."
Chief of Staff Kang said of Senior Secretary Han, "Having served as director general for human rights at the Ministry of Justice and in the leadership of front-line offices of the Prosecution Service, Han is a legal professional who has built a balanced record of rigor in law enforcement and sensitivity to human rights," adding, "In the administration's second year, Han will strengthen accountability in the civil service and reliably complete prosecution reform, including the creation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Corruption Investigation Agency."
Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication Seong Ki-hong served as political editor and editorial writer at Yonhap News Agency, then as news director and president and CEO of Yonhap News TV. Senior Presidential Secretary for Social Affairs Kim Kyung-ja is a health care expert and former pharmacist who served as a member of the National Pension Fund Management Committee at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, vice chair of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, and senior vice chair of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KTCU).
Chief of Staff Kang said of Senior Secretary Hong, "As a traditional journalist with 30 years of experience who combines balance and judgment, Hong is expected to fully support communication so the public can easily feel the administration's achievements." As for the background of Senior Secretary Kim's appointment, Kang said Kim is "a labor activist who led change in our society," adding Kim is "the right person to devote efforts so that no one is excluded from the benefits of growth and opportunity and everyone can lead a dignified life."
For first deputy director at the Office of National Security, Kang Geon-jak, a member of the Presidential Commission on Future Defense Strategy, was appointed, and for third deputy director, Song Ki-ho, the current secretary for economic security, was appointed. Deputy Director Song came from MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society and, at the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, was appointed director of the National Situation Room, then moved to serve as secretary for economic security under the third deputy director, and in this personnel move was promoted to deputy director.