President Park Geun-hye on Sunday carried out a partial reshuffle of her secretariat in a move to assuage growing public anger over a burgeoning influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime confidante.
In the latest shakeup, Park appointed Choi Jai-kyeong, a former prosecutor, as her new senior secretary for civil affairs, while naming Bae Sung-rye, a former National Assembly spokesperson, as her chief secretary for public affairs.
The embattled leader also accepted resignations tendered by her three aides Lee Jae-man, Jeong Ho-seong and Ahn Bong-geun who served as presidential secretaries for administrative affairs, private presidential affairs and public relations, respectively.
The scandal, involving Choi Soon-sil, has sent Park's approval ratings dropping to their lowest point since her inauguration in February 2013. It has also triggered calls for a sweeping personnel shakeup and prompted nationwide street rallies demanding her resignation and even impeachment.