South Korea Adds Vice-Minister-Level Advisor to Presidential Secretariat

The Republic of Korea has expanded the Presidential Secretariat (대통령비서실) by one vice-minister-level advisor, raising its political (정무직) positions from 12 to 13. The change was enacted by Presidential Decree No. 36666, the Partial Amendment to the Presidential Secretariat Organization Decree, promulgated in the Gwanbo (대한민국 관보) issue No. 21313 of 2 September 2026.

The decree was signed by President Lee Jae-myung (이재명), countersigned by Prime Minister Han Sung-sook (한성숙) and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung (윤호중), and approved by the State Council (국무회의). It took effect on the date of promulgation.

What the Decree Changes

The amendment adjusts the staffing table of the Presidential Secretariat in three linked figures:

• Total authorized headcount rises from 443 to 444.
• Political (정무직) positions increase from 12 to 13.
• Advisors or senior secretaries at vice-minister level (보좌관 또는 수석비서관, 차관급) rise from 9 to 10.

The single new post is a vice-minister-level advisor, the first expansion of this category in the current staffing structure.

Purpose and Rationale

According to the official statement of reasons and main contents published alongside the decree, the new position is intended to efficiently support the President’s conduct of state affairs, with particular emphasis on the promotion of large-scale local investment (대규모 지방투자 추진). The rationale, provided by the Ministry of Government Legislation (법제처), frames the addition as a functional strengthening of the Secretariat’s advisory capacity rather than a general expansion.

Publication Details

The decree appears in the supplement volume (별권1권) of Gwanbo issue No. 21313, dated 2 September 2026, under the presidential decrees section. The full text, including the amendment’s reasons and main contents, is published in the official gazette.

The change is significant for readers because it signals a deliberate reinforcement of the presidential advisory apparatus around economic and regional-development priorities. By creating a dedicated vice-minister-level advisor focused on local investment, the administration is institutionalizing capacity to coordinate large-scale projects across ministries, a move that may foreshadow further organizational adjustments and personnel appointments within the Presidential Secretariat.

Source: Republic of Korea Official Gazette (대한민국 관보), issue No. 21313 (supplement vol. 1), 2 September 2026, presidential decrees section (official reference: Presidential Decree No. 36666).