 ▲ 윤석열 대통령이 22일 용산 대통령실 청사에서 홍철호(오른쪽) 신임 정무수석을 소개하며 취재진 질문을 받고 있다. © 뉴시스 |
윤석열 대통령이 22일 새 대통령실 정무수석비서관에 홍철호 국민의 힘 전 의원(66)을 임명한 가운데 차기 국무총리 선임 관련해 "시간이 걸릴 것 같다"고 밝혔다.
윤 대통령은 이날 오후 용산 대통령실에서 홍 신임 정무수석 임명을 직접 전한 가운데 "정치인이기 이전에 먼저 역경을 딛고 자수성가한 기업인으로 당의 많은 분들 얘기 들어보니 소통·친화력이 아주 뛰어나시다고 추천받았다"며 "뭣보다 자수성가한 사업가로서 민생 현장 목소리도 잘 경청하실 분이라 생각하고 있고 개인적 관계는 전혀 없으나 잘 하실 걸로 믿는다"고 전했다.
또 차기 국무총리 선임 관련해선 "지난 금요일 이재명 더불어민주당 대표에 용산 초청을 제안했기에 그와 관련 여러 얘기를 주고 받아야 하고, 정무수석을 빨리 임명해 신임 수석이 그 부분을 준비·진행하는 게 좋겠단 판단을 하고 있다"고 설명했다.
윤 대통령은 이날 오전과 오후 연속 용산 대통령실 브리핑룸을 찾아 정진석 신임 대통령 비서실장과 홍 신임 정무수석 인선 사안을 직접 전하고 소개하면서 출입취재진 질문에도 직접 답하는 등 기존과 다른 소통방식을 선보여 눈길을 끌었다.
19·20대 재선 의원(경기 김포)을 지낸 홍 신임 정무수석은 유명 프랜차이즈 '굽네치킨' 창업주로 금번 제22대 4·10 총선에서 국민의 힘 경기 김포을 지역구 후보로 출마했으나 낙선했으나 최근 김포의 서울 편입 논의를 가장 먼저 꺼낸 바 있다.
그는 지난 2017년 제19대 대선 당시 바른정당에 몸담았던 시절 유승민 당시 대선후보 비서실장으로 활동했고, 복당 후 자유한국당(국민의 힘 전신) 김병준 비상대책위원장 때 비서실장·국민의 힘 전략기획부총장 및 소상공인위원장 등을 역임했다.
홍 신임 정무수석은 "제 몸에 비해 옷이 훨씬 커 걱정이 너무 많다. 이번 선거 결과는 민심을 확인하는 선거였고 결과값은 정무 쪽에서 부족한 부분을 채워야 한다 생각한다"며 "반은 배우면서 반은 의회 경험을 갖고 프렌들리(친화적으로)하게 일해볼 수 있도록 하겠다"고 소감을 밝혔다.
영수회담 관련 '민주당서 영수회담 사전 논의 일정을 조율하는 과정에 불만을 나타냈는데 어떻게 생각하는가'란 질의에 "반나절 차이"라며 "오늘 (민주당 측에) 연락 드려서 내일 바로 연결성을 갖고 천준호 비서실장과 논의 계획"이라고 답했다.
영수회담 의제에 대해선 "제가 준비된 게 하나도 없어 죄송하고 그 답변은 천 실장과 1차로 한번 뵙고 나서 다음에 (하겠다)"며 "그 쪽서 어떤 말씀을 하실지조차 모르는데 답변드리기가 좀 (힘들다)"고 답했다.
이날 한오섭 정무수석은 오후 3시 천 실장과 영수회담 준비를 위한 회동을 약속한 상태였으나 이날 오전 정진석 신임 대통령 비서실장이 임명된 직후 천 실장에 수석 교체에 대한 양해를 구하면서 기존 약속이 취소됐다.
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.
President Yoon Seok-yeol appoints new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho, "It takes time to appoint the next Prime Minister."
Lee Jae-myeong's meeting, Yoon said, "I decided it would be better to quickly appoint the senior secretary for political affairs so that the new chief can prepare and proceed." Hong said, "I plan to connect tomorrow and discuss with Chief of Staff Cheon Jun-ho."
-kihong Kim reporter
President Yoon Seok-yeol appointed former People Power Party lawmaker Hong Cheol-ho (66) as the new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs in the Presidential Office on the 22nd, and said, "It will likely take time" to select the next Prime Minister.
President Yoon personally announced the appointment of Hong as the new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Yongsan Presidential Office this afternoon, saying, "Before he was a politician, he was a self-made businessman who overcame adversity. After listening to many people in the party, I was recommended that he has excellent communication and friendliness." “As a self-made businessman, I think he is someone who will listen well to the voices of people in the field, and although I have no personal relationship with him, I believe he will do well,” he said.
Also, regarding the appointment of the next Prime Minister, "Last Friday, we proposed inviting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to Yongsan, so we need to exchange various stories related to him, and we decided that it would be better to quickly appoint the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs and allow the new Senior Secretary to prepare and proceed with that. “We are doing it,” he explained.
President Yoon visited the Yongsan Presidential Office briefing room in the morning and afternoon on this day to directly convey and introduce the appointment of the new Chief of Staff to the President Jeong Jin-seok and the new Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs Hong, and directly answered questions from reporters, attracting attention by showing a different communication method than before.
Hong, the newly appointed Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, who served as a member of the National Assembly (Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province) for re-election in the 19th and 20s, is the founder of the famous franchise 'Goobne Chicken' and ran as a candidate for the People Power Party's Gimpo-eul, Gyeonggi Province district in the 22nd April 10 general election, but was defeated. The discussion on transfer was brought up first.
While serving in the Bareun Party during the 19th presidential election in 2017, he served as chief of staff to then-presidential candidate Yoo Seung-min, and after returning to the party, he served as chief of staff, deputy chief of staff for strategic planning of the People Power Party, and vice-president of strategic planning for the Liberty Korea Party (formerly People Power Party) Kim Byeong-jun, emergency response committee chairman. He served as chairman of the small business committee.
Hong, the new senior secretary for political affairs, said, "I am very worried because my clothes are much bigger than my body. The results of this election were an election that confirmed public sentiment, and I think the results should make up for the shortcomings in political affairs." “I will use my experience in Congress to allow me to work in a friendly manner,” he said.
Regarding the leader meeting, in response to the question, "The Democratic Party expressed dissatisfaction with the process of coordinating the preliminary discussion schedule for the leader meeting, what do you think?" he said, "It is a half-day difference," and "I contacted the Democratic Party today and will be able to connect with Chief of Staff Cheon Jun-ho tomorrow. “Discussion plan,” he replied.
Regarding the agenda for the leadership meeting, he said, "I'm sorry I haven't prepared anything, and I'll answer that later after I meet with Director Cheon first," and added, "I don't even know what he'll say there, so it's a bit difficult to answer."
On this day, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Han Oh-seop had promised to meet with Director Cheon at 3 p.m. to prepare for the summit meeting, but the original promise was canceled as the new Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok asked Director Chun for understanding about the replacement immediately after being appointed this morning.
