Presidential transition team to be launched soon

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, second from right, and Ahn Cheol-soo, second from left, who merged his candidacy with Yoon's, clap in the People Power Party's situation room in the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party (PPP) will soon form his Presidential Transition Committee.

Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party, who merged his candidacy with Yoon's at the end of the campaign, has emerged as one of the possible names to lead the committee, as the two had announced that they would cooperate right from the outset, if Yoon were to be elected.

In the agreement for the candidacy merger between Yoon and Ahn that came out six days ahead of the election, the two said, "We will consult (with each other) on everything from the makeup of the transition committee to the makeup of the joint government."

Five years ago when Moon Jae-in was elected, he had no transition team and was inaugurated the day after winning the election, since the election was held after the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

Under the Presidential Transition Act, the committee consists of a chairperson, a vice chairperson and up to 24 committee members. It is in charge of forming a blueprint for the new administration. The committee is permitted to run for a period of 30 days after the new president is inaugurated.

Yoon's closest aides, including Reps. Kweon Seong-dong, Chang Je-won and Yoon Han-hong of the People Power Party (PPP), are expected to take part in the transition committee.

Among them, Chang played a key role behind forming the coalition with Ahn.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and the People Power Party lawmaker Chang Je-won are seen campaigning in Busan in this March 4 file photo. Yoon named Chang as his chief secretary, Thursday. Yonhap

During a news conference held on Thursday, Yoon denied media reports that Ahn and Chang would join the transition committee.

"I haven't had time to think about the transition committee yet," he said. "I will organize the committee as soon as possible to reassure the people over the transition."

Yoon said merging properly with Ahn's People's Party is the top priority, though Ahn's exact role is not decided yet.

"Ahn will play an important role in our party and our government, providing key support,” Yoon said.

Yoon's secretaries are in charge of establishing and supporting the transition committee for two months.

"The secretariat will be small scale, but efficient enough to assist the committee and verify key personnel in the early stage," Yoon added.

Later in the day, Yoon named Chang as his chief secretary. During a visit from Rhee Cheol-hee, current senior presidential secretary, Yoon told him to contact Chang who is his "chief secretary."

Other names coming up for the committee are also Yoon's close aides. Kim Han-gil, a former head of the liberal Democratic Party (DP), who served as chairman of the New Era Preparation Committee, a separate committee under Yoon in the PPP, is another possible figure to lead the transition committee.

Rep. Kwon Young-se, a PPP lawmaker who led Yoon's election campaign, resigned as the party's secretary-general Thursday and he is likely to join Yoon's transition committee as the vice chairperson, who supervises practical affairs.