Opposition asks whether Kim Hyun-ji wields outsized influence over personnel decisions

Presidential Chief of Staff Im Gwang-hyeon answers questions from lawmakers during a national audit of the Presidential Secretariat, the National Security Office and the Presidential Security Service at the National Assembly on Thursday. [Yonhap]
Presidential Chief of Staff Im Gwang-hyeon answers questions from lawmakers during a national audit of the Presidential Secretariat, the National Security Office and the Presidential Security Service at the National Assembly on Thursday. [Yonhap]

Presidential Chief of Staff Im Gwang-hyeon said Thursday that the administration conducts personnel appointments "under the principle of placing capable talent in the right positions, in accordance with relevant laws and procedures."

Im made the remarks at a national audit of the National Assembly's steering committee, responding to questions from People Power Party lawmaker Kim Min-jeon about the administration's appointment system.

Im also acknowledged the withdrawal of five minister nominees, saying, "There have been cases in which five minister candidates dropped out. For that, I feel deeply sorry to the public in my capacity as chair of the personnel committee."

On appointments within the presidential secretariat, Im said the process "is being carried out systematically under the responsibility of the chief of staff, who chairs the personnel committee," and pledged to "strengthen vetting and other procedures going forward so that the public has no cause for concern."

Lawmaker Kim pressed Im on the matter, saying that "the Gyeonggi Province Seongnam line and former defense attorneys for President Lee Jae Myung now form the core of the secretariat," and asked whether Kim Hyun-ji, the first deputy chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae, "wields very strong influence over personnel decisions."


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