Senior press secretary appointed

By Kim Tae-gyu

Lee Jung-hyun

President Park Geun-hye appointed her senior political secretary Lee Jung-hyun, 55, as senior secretary for public affairs, Monday, to replace Lee Nam-ki who resigned over a sexual assault case involving former spokesman Yoon Chang-jung.

Yoon was fired after allegedly groping an embassy intern during Park’s U.S. visit last month and Lee stepped down because he was the immediate superior of the disgraced spokesman.

With the appointment of Park’s long-time confidant, the vacancy of the press secretary is filled but Park has yet to find a new face to take charge of the senior political secretary post.

“Communication with the President is the most significant point for senior aide for public affairs. I understand that was the criteria,” Park’s spokeswoman Kim Haing said.

But she said that Lee’s successor has not been chosen yet. With regard to whether and by whom Yoon will be replaced, she also said that she had no idea.

“I will put forth efforts to show people President Park’s philosophy in operating state affairs in a precise and sincere manner,” Lee told a press meeting after the appointment.

Since entering politics in the late 1990s, the former lawmaker has been a close aide to Park.