President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday accepted the resignations submitted by Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI and future planning, and Jeon Eun-su, presidential spokesperson. Ha, who has long been widely regarded as a likely candidate for the parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-gap constituency, is expected to end his tenure at the presidential office starting Tuesday and prepare for the National Assembly by-election, which will be held concurrently with the June 3 local elections.
Meeting with reporters, Ha said, "As AI secretary for more than 10 months, I received a great deal of support from President Lee. Some may think 10 months is short, but I have never changed my direction of wanting to build a country that offers opportunities for growth." He added, "Wherever I am and whatever I do, I will be doing what is most important at that moment toward making Korea one of the world's top three AI powers." He noted that "President Lee let me go graciously." According to Ha, the president told him, "You have made a big decision. Wherever you go, please work for the national interest and the people."
Jeon is increasingly seen as a likely candidate for the Asan-eul constituency in South Chungcheong Province, the home district of Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik. A graduate of Gongju National University of Education, Jeon previously worked as a teacher in the Daejeon and South Chungcheong region. Expectations are reportedly high that she could become a valuable asset for the Democratic Party as a female politician born in the 1980s.
Jeon also told reporters on the same day, "I have been working alongside President Lee on state affairs, but now I will communicate with the people on the front lines." She stressed, "I will pursue politics for the people."
