"Without Even a Pen," 499 Days... The Blue House's "Hyungsik" Bids Farewell

Chief of Staff Kang Hoonsik Leaves the Blue House
From Launching a Government Without a Transition Committee to Economic Diplomacy
"Hyungsik!" President Lee Even Joked
Supporting Government Affairs Amid Special Trust
Steps Down 23 Days After Resigning Over Vetting Controversy

"I sincerely thank everyone who supported us as a government launched without a transition committee and a Blue House that began without even a pen came to dream of an 'irreplaceable Korea.' I leave with the belief that the Lee Jae-myung Administration will succeed, because of the people and situations I saw, heard, and experienced. The newly starting Blue House will come closer to becoming part of a successful government."

Kang Hoon-sik, who served as presidential chief of staff from the launch of the Lee Jae-myung Administration, bid farewell on October 14. It came 499 days after he gave up his seat as a three-term lawmaker and joined the Blue House, saying he wanted to help build a successful government. He helped steer the government back to normal amid the turmoil of martial law and impeachment, and worked on the front lines of economic diplomacy. But 23 days after offering his resignation and taking responsibility for successive controversies over vetting, he stepped down. It was the departure of a key aide who had enjoyed such President Lee's confidence that the president called him "Hyungsik" in public.

At Chunchugwan in the Blue House that day, Chief of Staff Kang personally introduced his successor, newly appointed Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun, completing his final duty. "My desire to show the people a successful government, which I said was why I gave up my seat in the National Assembly, remains unchanged," he said, recalling that he had "spent 499 days striving with that one goal in mind." He added, "I'll reflect on whether I was too hasty in trying to live up to that desire," and said, "I will remember for a long time the moments when I could have done better and the matters I should have examined more closely."

President Lee Jaemyung and Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik enter the Population Strategy Vision Declaration Ceremony at the Blue House on October 14. President Lee appointed Lim Kwanghyun, commissioner of the National Tax Service, as his new chief of staff. Oct. 14, 2026. Yonhap News

499 Days After Giving Up a Third Term in the Assembly... From Restoring Government to Economic Diplomacy

Chief of Staff Kang's time at the Blue House began on June 4, 2025, when President Lee took office. Kang, who had served three consecutive terms representing Asan B in South Chungcheong Province, gave up his seat in the National Assembly and was appointed the first presidential chief of staff born in the 1970s. His first task in an administration launched without even a presidential transition committee was to assemble the presidential staff and reorganize the system for running the government. For more than a year and four months, he coordinated government affairs across the board as a bridge connecting the ruling party, the government, and the Blue House, as well as one of the president's closest aides.

His activities extended beyond the Blue House to the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. During U.S.-South Korea tariff negotiations in August 2025, he dramatically established a communications channel with Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff. As the president's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, he traveled to Canada, Poland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other countries to negotiate. In particular, when the fallout from the U.S.-Iran war this year disrupted energy supplies, he visited the Middle East and Central Asia twice in March and April to negotiate additional supplies of crude oil and naphtha. In effect, he took on the role of resolving major issues facing the government, going beyond his duties as an aide supporting the president at close range.

His distinctive "personal diplomacy" also proved effective in the process. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, a powerful figure in the UAE and chairman of Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority, grew so close to Kang that he regarded him as an older brother. Kang, in turn, called him "Brother Khaldoon" and built a close relationship with him, even giving him Dubai chewy cookies as a gift. The trust between the two also led to an economic cooperation agreement worth $65 billion.

Kang Hoon Sik, the presidential chief of staff appointed as the President's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, speaks briefly with reporters at the departure hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport on Nov. 13 before departing for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 2025.11.13 Yonhap News Agency

"Hyungsik, Did You Buy Land?"... Serving the President With His Special Trust

The relationship between President Lee and Chief of Staff Kang stood out even at official events. A case in point was a government policy briefing held in Sejong City on December 11, 2025. "You're back in your hometown. Why don't you say a few words?" President Lee said, inviting Kang to speak, before joking, "Hyungsik, did you buy land?" Kang waved his hands in denial and laughed, and the venue filled with laughter. By directly using the nickname "Hyungsik," which had come up in a controversy over requests for personnel appointments, President Lee gave Kang an opportunity to ease the political pressure on him.

A similar moment took place at a New Year's press conference on January 21, 2026. Asked about the possibility that Kang might be tapped to run in a local election, a reporter described the two as being "in love." President Lee responded jokingly, "I love my wife. When did we ever become lovers...? That's creepy."

Their relationship dates back to the 2022 presidential election. Kang served as head of Lee's political affairs coordination office at the time, and also led the campaign as head of its general situation room during the presidential election last year. As a key aide who had closely understood President Lee's political judgment and governing philosophy, he wielded considerable influence in coordinating policy and handling political affairs.

President Lee made no secret of his trust in Kang that day, either. On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote, "Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, thank you for all your hard work," adding, "You played a major role in stabilizing the government of popular sovereignty, which began on barren ground, and restoring normal government operations." In his final message of thanks, he also used the nickname "Hyungsik," underscoring his special trust in Kang.

President Lee Jaemyung smiles after offering words of encouragement to Chief of Staff Kang Hoonsik, who had just returned from a visit to the UAE as a special envoy, at a senior secretaries meeting held at the Blue House on March 19, 2026. Yonhap News

Steps Down 23 Days After Resigning Amid Controversy Over Vetting Failures as President's Approval Rating Falls

Despite the president's deep trust in him, Chief of Staff Kang faced criticism over inadequate vetting after a series of ministerial nominees, including Yong Hyein and Kim Seungwon, withdrew. As the controversy coincided with a decline in the government's approval rating and calls grew for the Blue House to overhaul its personnel, he decided to step down on September 21, 2026. The Blue House said the move reflected the chief of staff's overall responsibility for the administration of government affairs as the president's aide.

Even after offering his resignation, Kang spent 23 days overseeing the president's overseas trips and major government affairs. As President Lee took longer to decide on a successor, some raised the possibility that Kang might remain in the post. But after the announcement of his successor that day, Kang concluded his official schedule by attending the population strategy vision declaration ceremony at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan.

He will return to private life on October 15, 2026. He may again be mentioned as a possible candidate for Seoul mayor or prime minister, but is expected to refrain from public activities for the time being while developing plans for his next steps.

President Lee Jae-myung offers a drink to the restaurant owner while having dinner with Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik at a Korean restaurant in Tongin Market, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 9, 2026. Yonhap News.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.