The Yoon administration is trying to get back on its feet, and the person appointed as the chief of staff to oversee the presidential office is the chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Association, who is pro-Japan.

On the 22nd of this month, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol announced that he would appoint Jeong Jin-seok (63) as Chief Secretary (ministerial level) to oversee the presidential office.
He is known as a "Japan supporter" and is the chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League, which is made up of cross-party lawmakers. Japanese media has also taken notice of Chung's appointment as an advisor to support the administration.
"It is expected to have a positive impact on the good as well" (Mainichi Shimbun). South Korea held a general election on the 10th of this month, and the ruling party "People Power Party" that supports President Yoon suffered a major defeat.
The 2016 general election was positioned as a mid-term evaluation of the Yoon administration. The focus was on whether the current divided state in which the opposition holds a majority of seats in the National Assembly would be resolved.
The Democratic Party of Korea (including its affiliated parties) won 108 seats, while the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, won 175 seats (including the proportional parties in the opposition camp led by the Democratic Party). The opposition parties were led by a number of opposition parties, including those calling for constitutional reform and the impeachment of the president.
Although the party did not secure the 200 seats needed to pass the bill, it will still be able to hold the initiative in the political situation. The party's top leader, Han Dong-hoon, took responsibility for the People Power Party's crushing defeat and became the acting vice president.
In addition to the head of the Strategy Committee, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and Chief of Staff Lee Kwang-seop, among other senior administration officials, all announced their intention to resign. President Yoon, at a cabinet meeting held on the 16th, commented on the ruling party's landslide defeat in the general election.
"Everyone must humbly accept the public opinion that was made clear in this general election. I will adopt a more humble and flexible attitude, communicate more closely, and listen to the public opinion myself," he said.
As President Yoon embarked on a restructuring of his administration, he announced on the 22nd that he would appoint Chung as Chief of Staff to the President. Chung is from Gongju, South Chungcheong Province in the central region.
After graduating from Korea University's Department of Politics and Diplomacy, he joined the Hankook Ilbo newspaper and worked as a reporter for 15 years. He served as a Washington correspondent and editorial writer.
He ran for office as a member of the Liberal Democrats Party and was elected for the first time. He has served as Secretary General of the National Assembly and Vice Speaker of the National Assembly. He has a close relationship with President Yoon and was the person who supported Yoon's entry into politics.
He was a leading figure in the ruling party for five terms, but lost in the latest general election. Known as a "Japanophile," he has served in various roles, including advisor to the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, chairman of the Committee on Korean Embassies to the Korean People, and chairman of the National Assembly's Korea-Japan Parliamentary Diplomacy Forum.
Before the inauguration of the Yoon administration in 2022, he visited Japan as the head of a delegation sent by Yoon to the Korea-Japan Policy Consultative Council. He met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others. In July of the same year, he became chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association.
In December of last year, as chairman, he paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Kishida. President Yoon said of Chung, "He has a good relationship with both the ruling and opposition parties. As chief of staff, he is not only a staff member (to the president), but also a member of the Cabinet and the opposition party.
"I expect that he will communicate well with the media and civil society, and carry out his duties well," Chung said. "There are concerns about the political situation of the minority ruling party, and difficulties are expected (in running the government).
"It is my responsibility to assist the Yoon administration and the president in these difficult times," he said, adding, "I would like to assist, however small my power may be, the president in improving communication and pursuing politics of unity."
Yonhap News reported that Chung "has a close relationship with President Yoon and is believed to be able to speak frankly to the president about pending issues." Public broadcaster KBS said, "The 'twisted' situation between the administration and the National Assembly
With the current situation continuing, strengthening cooperation and communication with the opposition party has become a major issue, and the president himself has been criticized for not having enough dialogue with the opposition party and the public.
The appointment of Chung as Chief of Staff was also reported by various Japanese media outlets. The Sankei Shimbun newspaper introduced Chung as a "Japan expert" and said, "Chung is a central figure in the administration."
"The Yoon administration's diplomatic policy, which places importance on cooperation with Japan, has shown that it is unwavering," the Asahi Shimbun reported. "Yoon, who has been criticized for being 'self-righteous and unilateral,' has said that he will 'humbly accept the will of the people.'
"He said he would accept the proposal, and expressed his intention to "reform national politics." However, it remains to be seen whether the appointment of a leading ruling party figure close to him as chief of staff will lead to "reform."
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