President-elect's key aides under spotlight

By Kang Hyun-kyung

An Chong-bum

President-elect Park Geun-hye’s five key aides came under the spotlight Thursday for their decisive role in mapping out policy directions of the next government.

Rep. An Chong-bum of the ruling Saenuri Party and Choi Oe-chool, president of the Park Chung-hee Leadership Research Center at Yeungnam University based in South Gyeongsang Province, are the two rising figures.

They are seen as the two right hand men of the president-elect.

An, an economist-turned-lawmaker, spearheaded Park’s economic vision during the presidential election. The first-term lawmaker has worked for Park since 2007 when she ran unsuccessfully in the primary to select a presidential candidate of the then Grand National Party (now the Saenuri Party).

At that time, An, then a professor of economics at the University of Seoul, was one of the key players having shaped Park’s signature pledge featuring deregulation and tax cuts.

Another key figure, Choi has worked for Park for 15 years.

During the presidential election, he helped Park reach out to key figures outside the ruling party by setting up Park’s meetings with them. Choi was also involved in drafting speeches that Park delivered at various events.

After the election, Choi returned to his day-job at the local university. Party insiders speculated that he would be called upon for a key post supporting Park when she is sworn in as President on Feb. 25.

Park’s close aides are well-known for their being “too quiet.” They are not media-friendly while refusing any media interviews without being quoted on any issues.

There are three other key figures who have worked closely with the President-elect.

The three are Lee Jae-man, Jung Ho-sung and Ahn Bong-geun who have worked for Park for 15 years as legislative aides after she joined the political circle as a lawmaker in 1998 through a by-election in the southeastern city of Daegu.

In the ruling Saenuri Party, no one denies that the trio is known as insiders’ insiders of the Park government. Little information is available about them, even their age, family, educational and career background, mainly because they didn’t talk to the media.

Party insiders say they are the real power of the Park government as the president-elect trusts them more than others.

The three are known to assist Park in her selections of post holders of the transition team. Park handpicks key figures for the transition team, of which lineup will likely be unveiled during the weekend.

The President-elect is set to nominate Cabinet ministers and presidential aides. The trio help Park pick the right ones by providing relevant information and other necessary back data about the candidates.

Party insiders said the three aides screened and suggested a list of candidates so that Park can pick the right ones.