[Joo Young-jin's News Briefing]
When quoting this interview, please accurately state the program name as 'SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing>'. Copyright belongs to SBS.
■ Broadcast: SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing> Mon–Fri (14:00–15:20)
■ Host: Anchor Joo Young-jin
■ Guest: Seong Ghi-hong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication
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● Interview
"Hope People View President Lee's Social Media as Direct Communication with Citizens"
"Expanding Democracy Diversifies Leaders' Communication Tools"
"Dawn Social Media Posts Not an Issue... Missing the Point"
"President's Posts Out of Sync with Aides? Impossible"
"President Lee Strongly Committed to Independent Launch Vehicles"
"Scope of Live Cabinet Meeting Broadcasts Has Changed Significantly"
"Very Active Closed-Door Discussions Follow Real Cabinet Meetings"
"Blue House Press Corps Embraces Open Q&A... System Taking Root"
"Q&A Between Reporters and Officials Should Be Open to the Public"
"Among Powerful Nations, South Korea Is the Only One Lacking Independent Wartime OPCON"
"Wartime OPCON Retrieval Means We Take the Wheel and the US in the Passenger Seat"
"South Korea and the US Holding Consultations in Line with OPCON Agreement"
"Making Advance Preparations for Potential Korea-US Summit Golf Event"
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▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: As mentioned, Seong Ghi-hong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication, joins us today. Welcome.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: I believe congratulations are in order for you. It is wonderful that you have been appointed head of the news headquarters in charge of news coverage.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Thank you. Was it about four or five months ago when you appeared on the show as Senior Secretary Seong Ghi-hong? We used to cover the field together as reporters, and I remember congratulating you on becoming the Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Relations.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Will we no longer be able to see you as an anchor then?
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: I will probably host News Briefing until next week, and then I will likely need to focus fully on my duties as head of the news headquarters.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Understood.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Senior Secretary Seong, just moments ago there was an intense debate on the show over what should be done regarding the president's social media. The president's resolve appears extremely firm. Some are even questioning whether the Senior Secretary's Office for Public Relations should exercise some form of gatekeeping over the president's social media. What is the atmosphere inside the Blue House, and what is your assessment? The president's intention seems very clear.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: The president spoke about this yesterday, and I have shared similar thoughts on various occasions, but speaking in principle, I see it this way. For a politician and a political leader, communication with the public, voters, and citizens is inseparable. A phrase often cited in Yeouido politics is "Gunju Minsu" (a monarch is a boat, and the public is water). A leader or monarch is like a small boat floating on the sea of public sentiment; public sentiment can keep the leader afloat or capsize the boat. A leader cannot exist apart from public sentiment. In that sense, in modern times, there are diverse media through which a leader can connect with voters and citizens. We live in a digital age rather than an analog one, and social media is the very medium for direct engagement. Without it, any politician would feel immense frustration in communicating. That is why the president referred to it as a "lifeline" yesterday. Therefore, rather than focusing on social media as a mere tool, I hope people will look at the direct communication with the public that it embodies.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Hearing you say that raises another question for me. While many people use social media, not everyone does. That makes me wonder what form communication will take for those who do not use social media.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Just yesterday, the president made a surprise visit in person to Chunchugwan (the Blue House press center)...
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Visiting without prior notice.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Indeed, the media serves as a traditional bridge between citizens and politicians, asking questions that the public is curious about on their behalf and conveying the president's words to the people.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Acting as a conduit.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Exactly, acting as a conduit. In that regard, the president communicates through the media, through social media, and at times through formal press conferences. We can say the president utilizes diverse methods of communication.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: As senior secretary, you have been giving media interviews quite frequently. Over the past five months, one might wonder: if the president communicates directly with the public, doesn't that leave the senior secretary with less to do? The senior secretary for public communication was originally supposed to serve as another conduit between the president and the people. With the president directly engaging the public, some might think the role of the Senior Secretary's Office for Public Communication has diminished somewhat. Looking back at the past five months, how do you see it?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: I believe that question arises because people like you and me, who have worked as journalists in traditional media since the 1990s, view things through the framework of conventional media—regarding the role of a press secretary and how a president delivers messages. That is why questions may arise about what role the press or aides play when President Lee engages in direct communication with the public. But fundamentally, the paradigm has shifted. We live in a digital age, not an analog one. That is why most political leaders around the world, not just President Lee Jae-myung, are moving toward direct communication. In a sense, the expansion of democracy goes hand in hand with media changes driven by technology. Within the expansion of democracy, a leader's communication tools are expanding and diversifying, and it would be good to view it from that perspective.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: I think this will be the final question on this topic. Regarding the president's determination to communicate via social media, haven't there been conflicting opinions across legacy media and new media, with both praise and criticism? When these reports are briefed to the president, either directly or through the chief of staff, and the president hears both sides, what kind of consensus has formed within the Blue House?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Earlier on this program, two senior figures from journalism shared critical perspectives on the president's social media. There were several points raised. The first was that he works too late into the night and early morning hours. Well, back when Anchor Joo and I worked together in Washington, it was during Barack Obama's presidency. President Obama was a well-known night owl politician. He would work until nearly 2 a.m., communicating with his aides. Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously convened staff meetings at 3 or 4 a.m. during World War II. The point is not whether it is early morning or late at night, but rather when a leader, as an individual, can focus their energy most intensively. Just as some people study better late at night while others work late into the dawn, leaders choose their peak hours. Making an issue simply out of the fact that something was posted on social media at 1 or 2 a.m. misses the point. That is one aspect. Another argument is that the president's social media posts should undergo gatekeeping, which sounds fine in theory. However, the posts written by the president can include his personal reflections as well as messages released after consultations with aides. What I want to emphasize is that the posts the president drafts directly by hand mostly reflect thoughts he shares daily with aides in closed-door meetings, incorporating our discussions as well. So I wonder if a post that suddenly appears completely out of sync with aides' opinions could even exist. While I cannot disclose everything about the culture of communication and debate between the president and aides inside the Blue House, I feel such criticisms are made without fully understanding that dynamic.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Understood. We have heard Senior Secretary Seong's perspective on social media. At today's Cabinet meeting, there was also a briefing by the administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) on the successful launch of Nuri. Was the president also on site during the Nuri launch?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: He was not on site.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Here?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: From his office.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Via video?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: He watched the live broadcast.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: It has been said that the success probability of the Nuri launch jumped sharply to 80%, and people are asking whether this has laid a modest foundation for us to leap forward into a space powerhouse. The president also seems to attach significant meaning to this.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: That is correct. Even at this very moment, tens of thousands of satellites are orbiting in space outside Earth. They could be weather observation satellites, reconnaissance satellites, or military satellites. Over time, more and more satellites will orbit in space. If so, shouldn't South Korea also launch satellites into space? Without an independent launch vehicle, we have to entrust them to launch vehicles from other nations. Furthermore, a launch vehicle market capable of sending up tens of thousands of satellites is forming, and the president is strongly committed to this. Following the fourth launch last November, he ordered in December to conduct launches every year going forward. He emphasized that launching annually allows technology to accumulate and provides predictability, enabling private companies that build launch vehicles to invest. The president is deeply committed to creating such an ecosystem, and the aerospace sector is currently designated as one of our seven seed strategies for future growth.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: In the end, though it is somewhat regrettable, doesn't it come down to money? In terms of priorities, it seems the issue is how much national budget and private capital can be invested, and how the financial resources will be secured.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: That is true. However, while aerospace funding is increasing in absolute terms, it remains a very small portion compared to the overall national budget.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: That is true.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: That is why some people might question whether we are pouring too much money into launching satellites into the sky when people are busy making a living and livelihoods are an urgent priority. But we can balance this adequately while preparing for the future by building an ecosystem for our aerospace industry. Ultimately, I want to say that this will be established within an ecosystem that creates jobs and contributes to developing our economy and people's livelihoods.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: At today's Cabinet meeting, it was mentioned that the research and development (R&D) budget was 35 trillion won, and that it has been increased to about 39.5 trillion won in next year's budget proposal. It sounds like a lot, but compared to other space powerhouses, it still seems...
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: That is correct.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: I see. So Nuri will be launched every year going forward.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: It will be launched every year, and in 2030, probably twice.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: And by steadily accumulating that capability and track record, going to the Moon in 2032.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Sending a lunar lander—that is KASA's current goal.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: I see. Today, the minister for government policy coordination reported on the live broadcast of the Cabinet meetings. Referring to comments such as "Mr. President, you must keep doing this if only to stop fake news," the president chuckled and said, "Those who think it shouldn't be done probably aren't tuning in." Regarding the live broadcast of Cabinet meetings, I'm curious about this part: if the live broadcast lasts one or two hours, does the subsequent closed-door Cabinet meeting also run for that long every single time? I'm curious about that.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: That is generally the case. Live broadcasts of Cabinet meetings began about a month after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, around July of last year, so we have maintained them consistently for about a year and three months now. If you look at videos from when we first started broadcasting Cabinet meetings live compared to now, quite a few things have changed. Fundamentally, under a government rooted in popular sovereignty where the people are the masters, the purpose of broadcasting Cabinet meetings live is to allow citizens to transparently watch live how their elected agents and public servants run the Cabinet meeting, the highest decision-making body. It is about seeing what decisions we make as public servants and how we work. As for how to show those scenes effectively, just as a television broadcast changes its programming lineup, the segments and scope disclosed have changed considerably between July of last year and today. Through this, improvements are continually being made toward finding ways to conduct debates efficiently and foster dialogue between the president and ministers. I also want to share that very vigorous discussions take place during the closed-door sessions as well.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: We have covered the live broadcasts of Cabinet meetings quite frequently, so I think Senior Secretary Seong's answer provides a clear explanation. Are the questions and answers between the Blue House spokesperson and the Blue House press corps also still being broadcast live right now?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Yes, that is correct. They are being broadcast.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: In the beginning, reporters expressed some concerns. They worried that supporters of President Lee Jae-myung might say, "That reporter keeps asking negative questions," and bombard their websites or social media accounts with comments—so-called targeted online harassment. What is the Blue House's assessment of this?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Currently, such worries have turned out to be unfounded. I believe those concerns have largely dissipated. In the beginning, those fears were excessive, and through an adjustment process, the system has now settled into place. Today, reporters covering the Blue House have no reluctance or hesitation about the two-way briefing system; they naturally ask questions to the spokesperson and the senior secretary for public communication, while the senior secretary, spokesperson, and other briefers answer responsibly in front of the cameras. I believe this system has firmly taken root.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: And reporters have adapted without feeling much pressure.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Yes, I believe so.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: But looking at an article in the Munhwa Ilbo today, it reported that all ministries were instructed to build systems to "introduce two-way briefings across all government agencies," framing it around live-streamed debates with reporters. What is your take on this? There, too, a sub-headline mentioned concerns over targeted online attacks by supporters.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Well, I believe that also stems from misunderstandings regarding the two-way briefing system. As reporters well know, does any reporter feel intimidated or hesitate to ask questions just because they appear on screen during a presidential press conference? That is not the case. Moreover, in the United States, two-way briefings are conducted not only at the White House but also at the State Department and the Department of Defense. This two-way briefing system means that both the government and the media operate more responsibly and transparently, with the public at the center of all dialogue. Reporters ask questions on behalf of the public, and government officials representing the public provide responsible answers—that is the framework that needs to be established. Therefore, I believe Q&A sessions between reporters and officials should be widely opened to the public rather than conducted behind closed doors in isolated spaces. I expect individual ministries will be able to autonomously build these systems according to their own circumstances.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Was this ordered by the Blue House, or how did it come about?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Because the Blue House fundamentally led by example, and because the basic philosophy of a government rooted in popular sovereignty is transparency, accountability, and openness in policy, I believe ministries are proceeding in line with that spirit. In addition, local governments are also increasingly moving toward live broadcasts.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: The city of Ulsan is doing so as well.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Yes, exactly. I believe that trend is becoming mainstream.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Understood. I have asked many questions about communication. Recently, another issue heavily covered in the media is whether there is some friction between South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities, or between the South Korean and U.S. governments. The president said this is a difference of opinion that can easily be coordinated and managed, and something that always occurs in normal circumstances. Along with these concerns, regarding the wartime operational control (OPCON), the president stated that it is not a "transition" (jeonhwan) but a "retrieval" (hwansu)—a normalization of swiftly regaining what was originally ours, and that this is entirely appropriate. On the other hand, the commander of USFK went to the United States and reportedly expressed negative views, citing changes in conditions and environment. Many people seem curious about this issue, so could you please explain?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: There are two aspects to address. First, regarding "transition" and "retrieval." Transition means "transfer," a relocation. Indeed, the agreement currently pursued between South Korean and U.S. defense authorities uses the term "transition" or "transfer." That refers to command authority moving from one entity to another, governing the procedural and institutional aspects. "Retrieval," on the other hand, means taking back what was ours, doesn't it? When the Korean War broke out in 1950, President Rhee Syngman handed over our military operational command to the UN commander, and for 76 years, our operational command has remained in U.S. hands. For 76 years, we have grown accustomed to this through inertia as if it were natural, but among strong nations with our level of national power, South Korea is probably the only one without independent operational command. To put it in terms of being in the driver's seat and the passenger seat: right now the U.S. is sitting in the driver's seat and we are in the passenger seat, but this means we take the wheel and the U.S. sits in the passenger seat. It by no means means getting off the taxi or bus that we are riding together.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Not telling them to get off.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: No. It means switching roles. That is the true meaning of retrieval. As for Commander Brunson's various remarks in the United States, as far as I know, they do not represent the unified position of the entire U.S. government. I can say that consultations and discussions between the two countries are currently progressing in accordance with our agreements on wartime OPCON retrieval.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Washington correspondents were probably kept busy by the USFK commander's remarks. Moving on, regarding a meeting with President Trump around December this year, is that at the G20 summit?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Since the G20 multilateral summit is being held in the United States, and the host nation is naturally the U.S., we anticipate they will naturally meet if the president attends.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: When they met in New York or somewhere last time, there was talk of playing golf together and setting up a tee time. Recently, I saw an article reporting that a golf task force had even been formed. In any case, I understood the article in the sense that such a meeting might be the best opportunity to resolve the recent situation between South Korea and the United States.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: A golf meeting between the leaders of South Korea and the United States would indeed be unprecedented. If such a scene unfolds, I believe it would be an important event symbolizing the solidity of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the chemistry between the two leaders. It wouldn't go as far as calling it a task force for preparations. The Blue House always prepares for diplomatic events, so we are making advance preparations in case such a golf event takes place.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Such as what cap to wear, what clothes to wear, and what message to convey—things like that?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Every single scene of an event during a presidential diplomatic engagement conveys a vital message, so I believe even details like appearance—what clothes to wear, what cap to put on, and how to present oneself—are matters that must be meticulously reviewed.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Understood. Recently, the opposition party has leveled various criticisms regarding golf. What are your thoughts?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Well, when it comes to golf, I wonder if there is anywhere else where a president playing golf is turned into subject matter for political sparring from multiple angles. I don't recall often hearing about Obama's golf or Trump's golf becoming the subject of political sparring.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Understood. Briefly now: how will President Lee Jae-myung's state administration change to raise approval ratings?
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Rather than changing, if the past year and three to four months were about laying out the blueprint for the new government of popular sovereignty, our goal going forward is to deliver substantive results that tangibly improve the lives of our citizens. By steadily producing such achievements and striving to let people see the fruits of policies that change their daily lives, we hope the public will respond positively. With that in mind, we are committed to working silently, diligently, and faithfully.
▷ [Joo Young-jin / Anchor]: Understood. Senior Secretary Seong Ghi-hong, I also hope you will be a senior secretary who places even more emphasis on communication than public relations. Thank you very much for your time today.
▶ [Seong Ghi-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication]: Thank you.
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