In the latest shakeup, Park appointed Choi Jai-kyeong, a former prosecutor, as her new senior secretary for civil affairs, while naming Bae Sung-rye, a former National Assembly spokesperson, as her chief secretary for public affairs.
The embattled leader also accepted resignations tendered by her three aides Lee Jae-man, Jeong Ho-seong and Ahn Bong-geun who served as the presidential secretaries for administrative affairs, private presidential affairs and public relations, respectively.
The trio -- among Park's most trusted aides -- have been under mounting pressure to step aside for their alleged links to the latest scandal involving Choi Soon-sil that has sent Park's approval ratings into the woeful 10-percent range and triggered calls for her resignation and even impeachment.
Presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk said Park had accepted resignations tendered by her chief of staff Lee Won-jong, and also An Chong-bum, Kim Jae-won, Woo Byung-woo and Kim Sung-woo who are her senior secretaries for policy coordination, political affairs, civil affairs and public affairs, respectively.
On Friday, Park directed all of her top secretaries to submit their resignations en masse, hours after she held talks with ruling Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun, who called for a prompt personnel reshuffle.
"As she is deeply cognizant of the gravity of the current situation, President Park has decided to conduct a shakeup of the presidential secretariat to meet the demands from various walks of life for a personnel revamp," Jung told reporters.
Jung added that in due consideration of the current situation, Park approved resignations from only five of the 11 top secretaries, including the chief of staff.
The chief executive will soon carry out a reshuffle of other vacant positions in her secretariat, Jung said.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
