By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The main resident of Cheong Wa Dae changes today, and so do the assistants for the President and first lady's daily life, including their barber, cook, stylist, doctor and so on.
A barber who used to cut President Lee Myung-bak's hair at a fitness center will go into the presidential house along with Lee. Lee was a member of the fitness club in Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, where barber Park Jong-gu worked for 29 years. Lee was a regular at the barbershop, even during last year's presidential election campaign period.
Park is known for having trimmed the hair of many high-profile political and business figures, including the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun's chefs are likely to work for the new President for a while, as Lee has not selected any cooks yet. ``It is important to have good chefs and assistants who can cook food the President enjoys, as it is related to the President's health,'' a Cheong Wa Dae official said.
It is said that a maid who helped first lady Kim Yoon-ok may take charge of cooking.
There are two dining rooms in Cheong Wa Dae ― one private one for the President and first lady, and the other for dining with guests. When the number of guests is less than 50, Cheong Wa Dae chefs make the food, otherwise, top hotel restaurants cater.
Stylists also attend to the President and first lady, selecting suits and applying makeup. Kang Jin-ju and Choi Hee-jin, who have worked for Lee, will continue their work. Kang, head of Personal Image Institute, has taken charge of Lee's fashion for six years, and Choi, since Lee's presidential campaign.
According to Lee's aides, Lee recently ordered the changing of the table in the conference room ― from a rectangular to an oval one, as the latter makes an atmosphere where people can freely exchange opinions.
Most of the furniture Roh used will be used by the new President with the exception of the bed. First Lady Kim has also prepared new sets of spoons and chopsticks.
Whether the tableware at Cheong Wa Dae will be changed or not is up to the first lady, as it has always been. The current tableware was bought in 1989 by former President Roh Tae-woo's wife Kim Ok-sook.