[Anchor]
Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom, whose name was absent from the Cabinet reshuffle announcement three days ago, abruptly stepped down yesterday (September 1). Interpretations suggest that internal meetings at the presidential office linked his retention to negative public sentiment, prompting his decision as President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings dipped into the 30% range.
Reporter Kang Min-u has the details.
[Reporter]
Cheong Wa Dae announced the resignation of Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom through an unscheduled press briefing.
[Kang Yu-jung / Senior Spokesperson, Cheong Wa Dae: Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom expressed his intention to resign on the 31st. Accordingly, President Lee Jae-myung accepted his resignation on September 1.]
His sudden departure comes 15 months after taking office as the first Chief of Policy under the Lee Jae-myung administration in June of last year, sparking various interpretations regarding the timing of his resignation.
Just three days prior, when a medium-scale Cabinet reshuffle was announced, ministers of economic departments such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance 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.
While media outlets poured out analyses that the "Kim Yong-beom policy command" system had been solidified, the opposition party flooded him with demands to step down, holding him responsible for the introduction of single-stock leverage ETFs and failures in real estate policy.
Then, the morning of the day before yesterday, a survey by pollster Realmeter showed that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating hit 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 his attendance.
As his sudden resignation was announced yesterday without the appointment of a successor, analyses emerged questioning whether it was a punitive dismissal. Cheong Wa Dae drew a line, stating that it was "personnel changes to breathe new life and momentum into policy execution."
A high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae official explained to SBS that Chief Kim told the president, "Since the atmosphere for government reform has been set through the Cabinet reshuffle, I, who am seen by the market as the control tower for policy, also need to be replaced to bring new vitality to Cheong Wa Dae," expressing his intention to resign, which President Lee accepted.
(Camera: Jung Sang-bo, Ha Ryung | Video Editing: Won Hyung-hee | Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
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