[Anchor]
Kim Yong-bum, the Blue House Chief of Policy who has led economic and social policies since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, has abruptly stepped down. He submitted his resignation just a day after the cabinet reshuffle involving economic ministers last Sunday, and it was accepted today (September 1st). Attention is now focused on the background of his sudden departure.
Reporter Kang Min-u has the details.
[Reporter]
The Blue House announced through an unscheduled press briefing this morning that Chief of Policy Kim Yong-bum had expressed his intention to resign, and that President Lee Jae-myung had accepted it.
[Kang Yu-jung / Senior Spokesperson of the Blue House: Blue House Chief of Policy Kim Yong-bum expressed his intention to resign yesterday, the 31st. Accordingly, President Lee Jae-myung accepted his resignation today, September 1st.]
His sudden departure comes 15 months after he took office as the Lee Jae-myung administration's first Blue House Chief of Policy last June, sparking various interpretations surrounding the timing of his resignation.
Just two days ago, when a mid-sized cabinet reshuffle was announced, ministers of economic departments such as the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport were replaced. However, because there was no announcement regarding Chief Kim, it was perceived that he would remain in his post.
That day, media outlets poured out analyses that the "Kim Yong-bum policy command" system had been solidified, while opposition parties flooded him with demands to step down, holding him responsible for the introduction of single-stock leverage ETFs and the failure of real estate policies.
Then, yesterday morning, a poll by the polling agency Realmeter showed that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating dropped to the 30% range for the first time. That same afternoon, Chief Kim abruptly notified the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts that he would not attend, despite having previously announced he would.
When his sudden resignation was announced today without even designating a successor, some analyses suggested it might be a punitive dismissal. However, the Blue House drew a line, stating that it was "an appointment to find new vitality and generate momentum in policy execution."
A high-ranking Blue House official explained to SBS that Chief Kim told the President yesterday, "Now that the cabinet reshuffle has set a tone of government reform, I, who am seen by the market as the policy control tower, also need to be replaced to inject new vitality into the Blue House," and offered his resignation, which President Lee accepted.
The explanation is that as the Lee Jae-myung administration enters its second year, it is carrying out a personnel renewal through voluntary resignation. However, some analysts suggest that whether this is a "prepared personnel change according to the President's vision" remains to be seen by watching the appointment of a successor.
(Camera: Jung Sang-bo, Ha Ryung | Video Editing: Won Hyung-hee | Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
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