On the 30th, it became known that Cheong Wa Dae has tapped Kim Rak-jung, senior administrative officer in the secretary for state agenda's office, as secretary for state agenda. Han Sang-ik, the current secretary for state agenda, wraps up the post as of today. Lee Seung-won, former adjunct professor at Hanyang University Graduate School of Education, was selected as the new secretary for foreign press. Marking the administration's second year, this is an organizational reshuffle to speed up the push for state tasks.
Kim, the senior administrative officer and a former reporter for local media in Seongnam, is regarded as a key aide who has been connected with President Lee Jae-myung since his days as a practicing attorney. After Lee was elected Seongnam mayor, Kim worked as secretary in charge of campaign pledges and as public relations secretary. Kim handled the planning and execution of welfare policies such as youth dividends, free school uniforms, and postpartum care cost support, which were core policies of Lee, then the mayor.
In 2018, when Lee was elected Gyeonggi governor, Kim moved to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to serve as a policy aide. Kim is credited with playing a key role in designing and implementing the "basic income" policy. Kim also assisted Lee at close range during Lee's time as a National Assembly member. During the last presidential election, Kim served as Head of Team of the strategy and planning team at the Democratic Party's election committee policy headquarters, overseeing the practical design of "Lee Jae-myung-branded" policies. With this internal promotion, Kim will begin duties on the 31st.
Appointed to succeed Choi Seong-a as secretary for foreign press, Lee, the former professor, is a current affairs commentator who started as a journalist. Lee hosted radio programs such as "Lee Seung-won's World and Us" and "Cheerful Current Affairs with Lee Seung-won."
In addition, Cheong Wa Dae recently carried out a large-scale round of promotions for about 60 administrative officers and staff. A Cheong Wa Dae official said it was "aimed at employees who delivered strong performance in the Lee Jae-myung administration's second year."