Moon Jae-in, Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Resigned

Moon Jae-in, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, resigned his post on February 12.

Moon who had a press interview at Cheong Wa Dae in the afternoon of this day said, “With continuous emergencies I have become physically and mentally exhausted and I am in poor health,” adding, “I revealed my intention to resign to President Roh a couple of days ago and he accepted it.”

Moon said that in the beginning he intended to assist the president until the general election but recent pressure to push him to run as a candidate at the election made him no longer want to endure, and that there are no changes in his decision not to run as a candidate at the general election and President Roh understands this.

To the question asking him whether he would support the Uri Party, however, Moon revealed his intention to do so by answering, “I think I can find something I can do, if there is anything. I support the Uri Party and hope it wins in the general election.”

Though Lee Ho-cheol, a presidential secretary for civil affairs, also expressed his intention to resign with Moon he decided to remain on due to President Roh’s persuasion.

President Roh will perform appointments of staff officers of the presidential secretary’s office on February 13 including Yonsei University’s president Kim Woo-sik, the new Secretary General.

It was said that a lawyer and a former public prosecutor will be appointed to succeed Moon.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com