A new year... and some fresh faces at South Korea's presidential office.<br />President Moon Jae-in has replaced a handful of his top aides amid a controversy over illegal surveillance of civilians.<br />Shin Se-min reports.<br /> <br />A partial reshuffle at the presidential office.<br />President Moon Jae-in introduced new members to the presidential office with the hope of achieving his administration's goals... as he enters the second half of his term.<br />South Korea's Ambassador to China, Noh Young-min, becomes the presidential chief of staff,... the second highest-ranking official at the top office after the president.<br />A former three-term lawmaker, Noh is a close associate of the president and oversaw the president's election campaign headquarters in 2017. <br />For the president's top secretary for political affairs,... Kang Gi-jung, also a former three-term lawmaker who served in parliament when Noh was there.<br />And taking the job of senior secretary for public relations is Yoon Do-han,... a veteran reporter with more than three decades of experience at local broadcaster MBC -- having been a correspondent in Los Angeles and an editorialist. <br />The newly named presidential aides -- who don't need confirmation hearings -- will start work Wednesday.<br />The new presidential staff... will give the president a sturdier support base,... since the newly appointed chief of staff and political secretary are known to be close to the president.<br />It's part of the president's plan to achieve tangible outcomes from his policy agenda by tightening the grip of his crew on state affairs.<br />It's also seen as a move aimed at revitalizing momentum for an administration with approval ratings at their lowest level yet. <br />The administration is also dealing with accusations that it illegally spied on civilians and has seen economic numbers falter -- both slowing down the president's legislative agenda <br /><br />"Through the minor yet high-profile shake-up at the top office,... the presidential office is hoping to get some traction as it nears the start of its third year. And there's more to come -- the top office is expected to go ahead with a Cabinet reshuffle in the weeks to come... to reform the face of the administration. <br />Shin Se-min, Arirang News." <br />
