Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik Offers to Resign
Kang Hoon-sik has offered to step down as President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff, adding fresh uncertainty at the top of the presidential office as the administration faces weak approval ratings and recent senior personnel changes.
South Korean presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik has offered to resign, the presidential office said Monday, potentially opening another senior vacancy as President Lee Jae Myung seeks to steady his administration amid weak public support.
A press secretary at Cheong Wa Dae confirmed that Kang had submitted the offer but did not give a reason. The presidential office also did not immediately announce whether Lee had accepted it or identify a possible successor. Until a decision is disclosed, the move remains an offer to step down rather than a completed departure.
Kang occupies one of the most influential coordinating positions in the administration. The chief of staff manages the flow of business around the president and helps align political, policy and communications work across the presidential office. A change in the post would therefore carry significance beyond an ordinary personnel reshuffle, particularly as the government manages a crowded domestic and diplomatic agenda.
The announcement came against a difficult political backdrop for Lee. A Realmeter survey released Monday put his approval rating at 34.8 percent, up one percentage point from the previous week but still well below the level recorded in mid-July. Negative assessments stood at 63.4 percent. The pollster said Lee’s support recovered late in the week after he addressed several contentious issues at a press conference, even as disputes over personnel vetting and ministerial nominations continued to weigh on public sentiment.
Two ministerial nominees, for justice and gender equality, recently withdrew from consideration after controversy over their qualifications. Earlier this month, presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom also resigned. The presidential office said at the time that Kim’s departure was intended to add momentum to policy implementation and that it would seek a replacement without disrupting state affairs.
Kang’s resignation offer now places additional attention on how Lee will organize his senior team. Any acceptance and subsequent appointment would come as the president prepares for overseas diplomacy while confronting pressure to demonstrate stability and improve policy coordination at home.
For now, Cheong Wa Dae has disclosed only the offer itself. The reason for Kang’s decision, the president’s response and the timetable for any personnel action remain unannounced.