Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
'President Moon wants to communicate more,' says his new chief of staff
President Moon Jae-in, right, and his chief of staff Noh Young-min arrive at an event at Cheong Wa Dae, Jan. 29. Korea Times file
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
New presidential chief of staff You Young-min relayed President Moon Jae-in's desire for more active communication with the public during an impromptu visit to the press center at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday.
This was You's first visit to the press center since his appointment Dec. 31, 2020.
“Due to the COVID-19 situation and many urgent issues, it has not been easy to arrange meetings with reporters. I will try to communicate more often,” You said.
The announcement of his visit was made only minutes before he arrived at the center with several other key aides from the presidential office for public communication at 2:30 p.m. “The President also wants to get together with reporters more often,” You added.
President Moon Jae-in meets children of shopkeepers during a visit to a "jeotgal" or salted seafood market in Sinan, South Jeolla Province, Feb. 4. Yonhap
The visit comes amid rising criticism that Moon has gone against his campaign pledge to prioritize public communication. Last year, he held only two press conferences, with some critics saying that Moon is an even worse communicator than the ousted former President Park Geun-hye. Moon's job approval rating has also suffered severely in the past few months.
The presidential office has explained that plans had been arranged for the President and reporters to meet last year, but were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An expert in information and communication technology (ICT) and Moon's first science minister, You has emphasized his role as a messenger.
“Above all, I will listen earnestly to the views and opinions from the outside and deliver them to the President,” he said during a press conference on the day of his appointment at Cheong Wa Dae.
You met with leaders of the political parties at the National Assembly earlier this year.