Senior Secretary for Economic Policy Position to be Revived

The presidential secretariat changed the name of what was formerly known as the senior secretary to the president for Policy Planning to the senior secretary for Economic Policy to revive officially the position of chief economic secretary that once belonged to the administrations of the past. This measure seems to be a fruit of the government’s recognition about the need to revive Cheong Wa Dae’s role as a coordinator of the economy in order to pursue the government’s plan to put forth every possible efforts for the economy.

Senior Secretary for Policy Planning Kim Young-ju will assume the new position of senior secretary for Economic Policy. The title of presidential secretary for Policy Planning under the senior secretary for Economic Policy will also be changed to secretary for Economic Policy. The position of presidential secretary for Policy, under the chief secretary to the president for National Policy, has been divided into two positions; one for Policy Planning and another for Social Planning in the structural reform made in mid-May following President Roh’s return to office after the dismissal of the impeachment.

The secretariat also decided to maintain the post of presidential advisor for National Defense and have Senior Advisor to the President for National Security Kwon Jin-ho assume the role. On the other hand, the chief of staff decided to close the position of the advisor for Leadership that was created directly under the president at the reform in May.

A Cheong Wa Dae official explains, “The position of the advisor for Leadership is to be closed for the current advisor, Lee Ju-heum, if he wishes to be posted back in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and it was decided that the post has served all of its purpose in the meanwhile.” The advisors for Reform Management, Petition and Suggestions, and Systems Improvement, which were used to be directly under the presidential chief secretary for National Policy, will now be managed under the new position of presidential chief secretary for Reform Management, which will be held by the Presidential Secretary for Reform Management Cha Ui-hwan for the time being.

Following this functional coordination, the presidential secretariat will now run under a system of two chiefs of staff, six senior secretaries, five advisors, and 41 secretaries, with one less advisor.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com