Kim Min-seok calls new presidential chief of staff 'a quietly powerful card'

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Thursday that newly appointed Presidential Chief of Staff Im Gwang-hyeon is "a quietly powerful card that may surprise many people," adding that he is "someone who can be of considerable help to the president and can immediately be put to work stabilizing relations among the party, government and Cheong Wa Dae."

Kim made the remarks during an appearance on the YouTube channel Minti07 that morning, saying the appointment was "a very good personnel choice made after careful deliberation."

Kim cited Im's relationships, policy direction and competence as his key strengths. "He served as a lawmaker from within the party, has worked in step with the government, and has good relations with the president and other key figures in the administration," Kim said. "In terms of relationships, he is extremely stable."

Kim then said Im "has continuously participated in Cabinet meetings since the government launched and already has the understanding needed to carry policy direction forward without interruption." He added that Im "has a broad grasp of the overall economy, as well as a strong understanding of markets and the real economy — he is more than just a bureaucrat from the National Tax Service in the narrow sense."

Kim also said the National Tax Service "is no pushover — it is an organization with strong discipline and pride," and predicted that Im, though he may appear mild-mannered, "has the classic tough-on-the-inside leadership style, which means he can manage the Cheong Wa Dae organization in a stable way."

On the future of outgoing Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Kim said he is "an all-around next-generation leader whom the president can trust and assign anything to," with "unlimited potential and a wide range of possibilities ahead." He went on to say that Kang "will probably want to take some time to rest, let his experience mature and keep learning — though how much time he will actually be allowed is another question."

Meanwhile, Kim also called for police reform in light of the concentration of investigative powers in the police following the overhaul of the prosecution. "The police's authority has grown and has reached a near-monopoly level, yet the mechanisms for democratic oversight — not just ordinary administrative controls — have yet to take hold," he said.

He then said it is necessary to "strengthen investigative capacity and tighten checks to prevent the burying of cases or delays in investigations," and that "accountability for flawed investigations must also be institutionalized." He added that "the TF we recently set up has been working through the details and a proposal is nearly complete," and said the final plan "must be realistic while also being the most reform-minded and sustainable option possible."