Cheong Wa Dae denies resignation of chief of staff
By Chung Min-uck
Kim Ki-choon Presidential chief of staff
Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday denied media reports that Kim Ki-choon, the presidential chief of staff, offered to quit before President Park Geun-hye left for a state visit to India and Switzerland last week.
Lee Jung-hyun, senior presidential press secretary who accompanied Park during her overseas trip, told reporters that the reports were “groundless” and Cheong Wa Dae officials also confirmed that, “That was never the case.”
“Kim handled his work normally during President Park’s trip and continued to preside over meetings with senior secretaries,” a presidential official said. “The report about his resignation is not true at all.”
However, notwithstanding the denial, speculation has surfaced especially among those in the conservative political circle that Kim has already expressed his intention to step down from his post.
The denials came in response to a report in a local daily that quoted Cheong Wa Dae officials as saying that Kim cited “personal reasons” in submitting his resignation to Park before her trip.
Park has yet to accept Kim’s resignation but will decide on the matter after her return home, the daily reported.
The 75-year-old, ex-three-term lawmaker has reportedly been suffering from work overload since assuming the position in August. He also had hard time recently after his son reportedly fell into a coma following a car accident.
Park returned from her state visit on Thursday.