Cheong Wa Dae stresses communication
Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, right, smiles in his meeting with the ruling Democratic Party Korea (DPK) leader Lee Hae-chan during his visit to the National Assembly, Jan. 11. Yonhap
By Kim Yoo-chul
President Moon Jae-in's chief press secretary said Sunday that Cheong Wa Dae will simplify its communication channels for effective and efficient communication with reporters and reporters.
“Cheong Wa Dae will change the way the presidential office communicates with reporters and the public for greater for greater simplicity. Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom will handle all questions and requests by reporters. My role is only to respond to questions relating to communication policy-related issues,” chief press secretary Yoon Do-han said in a lunch meeting with reporters.
Yoon, a former broadcast journalist who replaced Yoon Young-chan, added he will take a back-office role supporting presidential spokesman Kim.
“As I will be sharing all things happening inside Cheong Wa Dae with Kim, if you want fact-checking of daily issues from time to time and needs-based questions, please ask him,” Yoon said.
At the presidential office, the Cheong Wa Dae Press Center chief gives briefings on the President's main schedule around 09:00 a.m. Between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., presidential spokesman Kim makes daily briefings regarding questions by reporters. The question-and-answer session lasts about 10 minutes.
Upon requests and situations, Kim makes himself available to take additional questions.
Chief press secretary Yoon said Cheong Wa Dae wants to ensure coherence and avoid unnecessary overlaps between the chief press secretary and presidential spokesman.
Another senior Cheong Wa Dae official said the presidential office is considering reshuffling the cabinet in mid-February in a step to bulk up the President's muscle ahead of the next general election scheduled for April 2020.
“We are considering changing some ministers; however, further specifics on when and how have yet to be decided,” the official told reporters during the meeting. He asked not to be identified.
The President has recently shaken up his cabinet by appointing close associates to senior positions. Moon replaced his chief of staff, chief press secretary and chief presidential secretary for political affairs.
Getting a majority of parliamentary seats is crucial in order to keep the momentum of the Moon administration's legislative and diplomatic agenda alive. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Moon have already confronted numerous internal and external challenges such as a slow progress of negotiations aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons and tepid economic growth.
South Korean presidents serve one five-year term, and Moon is due to leave office in 2022. Therefore, he faces a lame-duck period during the latter half of his presidency. Out of the 299-member single-chamber parliament, the DPK has 131 seats with the country's major opposition Liberty Party Korea (LPK) securing 112 seats.