| President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
President Moon Jae-in is likely to reshuffle some of his key aides soon as a part of efforts to rebuild public trust and strengthen his administration, following continuing public criticism over his policies including on housing.
According to ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) officials, Cheong Wa Dae is likely to replace Kim Jo-won, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and Kang Ki-jung, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, and several others in a reshuffle that could take place as early as next week.
But Moon is likely to retain chief of staff Noh Young-min, who has become one of the symbols of the Moon administration's failing housing policy after controversy erupted surrounding his ownership of two houses in southern Seoul and Cheongju, South Chunngcheong Province. He belated announced a decision to sell both houses after his initial announcement to sell the less expensive home in Cheongju caused a public uproar.
Earlier this year, Noh recommended multiple homeowners at the presidential office to sell properties other than their main residence. Civil affairs secretary, who owns two homes in the affluent southern Seoul area, reportedly refused to follow the recommendation.
The expected reshuffle comes amid rising public discontent over President Moon's housing policy and his and the ruling party's response to a series of sexual harassment scandals involving DPK heavyweights, including the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Earlier this week, Moon' job approval rating hit its lowest level since October last year when a corruption scandal involving his close aide Cho Kuk, Kim's predecessor and a former justice minister, emerged.
Replacing Kang, who has served at Cheong Wa Dae for a year and seven months, is seen as Cheong Wa Dae's attempt to establish better relations with the opposition parties with the opening of the 21st National Assembly. The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) has stepped up its criticism of the President's “unilateral management of state affairs” and has been refusing to cooperate with some key issues brought up by the DPK.
There is also speculation that Moon will replace senior members at the National Security Office (NSO), including First Deputy Director Kim You-geun, who has been a key figure in Korea's responses to the conflict with Japan over the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).
While Cheong Wa Dae is hoping that the reshuffle will help improve public sentiment toward the President, concerns are rising that simply changing a few presidential aides will not be enough to assuage the people's rage toward the administration, under which housing prices have soared to record levels.
Calls are rising for a Cabinet reshuffle to properly address the policy missteps in areas of housing, jobs and the economy.
Over the past few weeks, the opposition has called for replacing Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee and Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, who is also the minister of economy and finance.
Moon received a briefing from Hong regarding next year's budget, Tuesday. During the undisclosed meeting, Moon showed confidence in the deputy prime minister, according to the presidential office.
“President Moon expressed support for four major projects in the budget proposal and encouraged the deputy prime minister to push ahead with them,” presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a briefing, Tuesday.