Veteran journalist of 30 years appointed presidential communication secretary

Seong Ghi-hong, the new presidential secretary for public relations and communication / Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

Seong Ghi-hong, the new presidential secretary for public relations and communication, is a veteran newswire journalist with 30 years of experience covering politics, the economy and national news.

Seong, 58, is the former CEO and president of Yonhap News Agency, who covered an array of areas after joining the company in 1992.

In 2007, he visited North Korea with other reporters covering Cheong Wa Dae to report on inter-Korean talks between late former President Roh Moo-hyun and late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the father of incumbent North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Following his three-day trip to Pyongyang, he co-authored a book on the historic event with other reporters and Cheong Wa Dae officials.

In 2016 and 2017, he led political news coverage of allegations surrounding former President Park Geun-hye and her impeachment that eventually resulted in an early presidential election.

Prior to his appointment as Yonhap News Agency CEO in 2021, he also worked as the news director of Yonhap News Television from 2019.

Seong is described as being trusted from both inside and outside the organization, for his reasonable disposition, and balance and judgment he demonstrated on the field.

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said the new secretary will "listen closely to the voices of the people and faithfully support communication with the general public so they can easily understand the government's accomplishments."