Presidential chief of staff vows to tighten ethics code

By Yi Whan-woo

Presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon called for loyalty to President Park Geun-hye on Friday, in the wake of the “memogate” scandal.

“We have caused the president much anxiety,” Kim said during a presidential secretaries’ meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. “A government organization that lacks discipline can’t work efficiently and we need to tighten discipline among ourselves.”

His remarks came after the debacle that started on Nov. 28 following a Segye Ilbo report on Cheong Wa Dae’s confidential memoranda.

The prosecution has been investigating the case since then. According to the investigators, the documents were allegedly created under the order of Cho Eung-chon, a former secretary for civil service discipline to the president.

The documents stated that Jeong Yun-hoe, a former aide of the president, regularly received briefings from a group of presidential secretaries and meddled in state affairs, even though he did not hold any formal position at Cheong Wa Dae.

The documents also stated that Jeong masterminded a scheme to sack Kim, who was criticized for wielding power excessively.

Cho is believed to be a confidant of Park Ji-man, 56, the president’s younger brother who is rumored to have been engaged in a power struggle with Jeong since his sister took office in February 2013.

Critics have speculated that Cho created the disputed documents to stir up controversy over Jeong and favor Park Ji-man. He also allegedly ordered Park Gwan-cheon, who worked for him at Cheong Wa Dae, to leak the documents to the press. Cho and Park Gwan-cheon were asked to quit their positions at the presidential office last year.

“We exclusively serve the President and we should not exploit our positions for our own sake or benefit,” Kim said. “We should unite together to support the President and make the country proposer.”