[Anchor]
Amid mounting criticism over personnel vetting failures following the consecutive withdrawals of ministerial nominees, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik has tendered his resignation. If Kang steps down, only the National Security Advisor will remain among the three senior presidential chiefs, raising the possibility of a full reshuffle of the presidential staff.
Leading off today, September 22, reporter Park Ye-rin has the details.
[Reporter]
Yesterday afternoon, September 21, the presidential office announced through an unscheduled briefing that Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik had offered his resignation.
[Seong Gi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication: "Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik tendered his resignation to President Lee Jae-myung this morning."]
This came three days after President Lee Jae-myung held a press conference that began with the message "apologies to the public," and two days after Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won voluntarily withdrew.
A presidential official explained, "This is to take overall responsibility as chief of staff assisting the president."
President Lee carried out a cabinet reshuffle on August 30, but after Gender Equality and Family Minister nominee Yong Hye-in and Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won stepped down one after another amid controversies, criticism over personnel vetting failures mounted. This has led to interpretations that Kang, who also heads the presidential personnel committee, is stepping down to take responsibility.
An hour after the announcement of the resignation offer, President Lee presided over a meeting of senior aides, thanking Kang for his hard work and saying:
[President Lee Jae-myung: "It seems you are saying you would like to finally graduate today? I haven't decided what to do yet..."]
President Lee departed yesterday, September 21, on a tour of the United States and Mexico to attend the UN General Assembly and for other engagements, and the resignation is expected to be formally accepted right after his return.
Yesterday afternoon, Kang reportedly posted a message in a social media chat room for presidential staff, urging that "regardless of my future course, the ranks must not be broken."
With two of the three top presidential chiefs—often referred to as President Lee's "triangular formation"—becoming vacant, there is also a strong possibility that a full-scale reorganization of the presidential staff will follow.
Mentioned as potential successors for the chief of staff position are Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, as well as Democratic Party lawmakers Cheon Jun-ho and Han Jun-ho.
(Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Yoon Hyeong | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Graphics by Cho Soo-in)
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