“Kim Hyun-ji is the personnel line”: Hot mic revives claims she is the real power behind appointments

A hot microphone has reignited the politically sensitive claim that Kim Hyun-ji, head of the presidential office’s first auxiliary unit, is the real force behind government appointments.

Seo Yong-joo, a former full-time deputy spokesman for the Democratic Party, made the remark during JTBC’s YouTube program “Genre: Yeouido” on the morning of the 4th. While discussing controversy over ministerial nominees, another panelist mentioned the personnel line. Seo replied, “The personnel line is Kim Hyun-ji.”

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The personnel line is Kim Hyun-ji.

Former People Power Party spokesman Yoon Hee-seok appeared startled and warned him that the broadcast was live. Seo then asked whether they were on air. He went on to say that there was no senior personnel secretary and that Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik had said he would perform that role. Seo added that key members had gathered to handle appointments.

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I was just joking.

The People Power Party’s media committee, chaired by Lee Jin-sook, seized on the comment. It said the claim that “the presidential office personnel line is Kim Hyun-ji” had come from someone on the ruling side and demanded an explanation over alleged intervention in ministerial nominations.

Seo later wrote on Facebook that he was embarrassed because a light joke had been conveyed differently from what he intended. He said he regretted that his words could cause misunderstanding and stressed that he had not intended to verify or assert the facts. The program’s production team also apologized, saying it had stated that there was no senior personnel secretary, but confirmed that presidential secretary Cho Seong-joo handled major appointments.

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The presidential office personnel line is Kim Hyun-ji.